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Create Architectural Decision Record

Writes a structured ADR document recording a technical decision, its alternatives and consequences

Source Download skill
Repository
github/awesome-copilot
Stars
40,703
Licence
MIT
Files
1 file

What it does

When you ask the agent to record a technical decision, it gathers the context, the decision made, the alternatives considered and the stakeholders involved, then writes a standardised Architectural Decision Record as a Markdown file in a docs/adr folder. The record includes status, positive and negative consequences, rejected alternatives with reasons, implementation notes and references, so future team members can understand why a choice was made. If any required details are missing and cannot be found in the conversation, the agent asks you for them before writing.

Great for

  • Software teams that want a consistent, searchable log of architectural decisions
  • Developers documenting a database, framework or infrastructure choice made in a conversation
  • Teams whose repositories already use a /docs/adr convention

Skip it if

  • Quick notes or small implementation choices that do not need formal records, since the template is heavyweight
  • Repositories with a different ADR folder or numbering scheme, because the skill hard-codes /docs/adr and sequential numbering, which may create duplicates or misplaced files

Try asking

  • “Create an ADR for our decision to move from MySQL to PostgreSQL, including the alternatives we discussed”
  • “Document our choice of event-driven messaging as an architectural decision record”
  • “Write an ADR for adopting a monorepo, with context, consequences and stakeholders filled in”
Step-by-step guide: how to use Create Architectural Decision RecordInstall, first run, examples, tips and FAQs

Install in 3 steps

  1. 1

    Download the skill

    The ZIP contains the 1 original files, the MIT licence and an attribution note.

    create-architectural-decision-record.zip
  2. 2

    Add it to your agent

    Claude Code (all projects)

    mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills && unzip create-architectural-decision-record.zip -d ~/.claude/skills/

    Claude Code / Agent SDK (this project only)

    mkdir -p .claude/skills && unzip create-architectural-decision-record.zip -d .claude/skills/

    Claude apps (web/desktop): Settings → Capabilities → Skills → Upload skill, and choose the ZIP.

  3. 3

    Ask for the task

    No special command needed — the agent reads the skill's description and loads it when your request matches. Try one of the prompts above.

Get better results

  • Provide the context, decision, alternatives and stakeholders explicitly so the agent does not have to guess them from the conversation.
  • Check the generated sequential number against existing files in docs/adr before committing, since the skill does not itself scan the folder in the text provided.
  • Review the consequences and rejection reasons, which are drafted by the agent and should reflect your team's actual trade-offs.

What's inside

  • SKILL.md

Redistributed unmodified from github/awesome-copilot under the MIT licence. The assessment was drafted with AI from the skill's files on 2026-10-29. Skills can instruct your agent to run code — read SKILL.md and any scripts before installing.