Architecture Decision Records

What are Defguard's Architecture Decision Records?

Architecture Decision Records (ADRs) are concise documents that capture important architectural decisions made during the lifecycle of a software system.

Each ADR focuses on a single decision, detailing the context, the decision itself, the alternatives considered, and the consequences of the chosen approach. They are critical for maintaining architectural clarity, especially in complex or long-lived projects where decisions can outlast the original developers.

By documenting the rationale behind architectural choices, ADRs promote transparency, enable easier onboarding of new team members, and help avoid repeating past mistakes. They also support better communication across teams by providing a lightweight, structured way to preserve architectural knowledge over time.