Title & Status
Concise title and status (Proposed, Accepted, Deprecated, Superseded).
4.8
on G2
Free Technical Template
Download a free architecture decision record template in Word, PDF, or Markdown. Or turn any video into architecture decision record template with Docsie AI — auto-fills every required field.
Use this template to document architectural choices for [system] with trade-offs.
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Category | Technical |
| Owner | [Team or owner] |
| Version | [Version number] |
| Effective Date | [Date] |
| Review Cycle | [Monthly / Quarterly / Annual / Event-based] |
| Status | [Draft / In Review / Approved] |
Concise title and status (Proposed, Accepted, Deprecated, Superseded).
| Item | Details | Owner | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| [Item or requirement] | [Describe the relevant detail, evidence, or decision] | [Owner] | [Open / Complete] |
| [Item or requirement] | [Describe the relevant detail, evidence, or decision] | [Owner] | [Open / Complete] |
[Add context, assumptions, exceptions, evidence links, screenshots, calculations, or reviewer comments.]
Describe the problem, constraints, and forces at play.
| Item | Details | Owner | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| [Item or requirement] | [Describe the relevant detail, evidence, or decision] | [Owner] | [Open / Complete] |
| [Item or requirement] | [Describe the relevant detail, evidence, or decision] | [Owner] | [Open / Complete] |
[Add context, assumptions, exceptions, evidence links, screenshots, calculations, or reviewer comments.]
State the decision clearly. Explain the rationale.
| Item | Details | Owner | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| [Item or requirement] | [Describe the relevant detail, evidence, or decision] | [Owner] | [Open / Complete] |
| [Item or requirement] | [Describe the relevant detail, evidence, or decision] | [Owner] | [Open / Complete] |
[Add context, assumptions, exceptions, evidence links, screenshots, calculations, or reviewer comments.]
List alternatives with pros and cons for each.
| Item | Details | Owner | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| [Item or requirement] | [Describe the relevant detail, evidence, or decision] | [Owner] | [Open / Complete] |
| [Item or requirement] | [Describe the relevant detail, evidence, or decision] | [Owner] | [Open / Complete] |
[Add context, assumptions, exceptions, evidence links, screenshots, calculations, or reviewer comments.]
Describe positive, negative, and neutral consequences.
| Item | Details | Owner | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| [Item or requirement] | [Describe the relevant detail, evidence, or decision] | [Owner] | [Open / Complete] |
| [Item or requirement] | [Describe the relevant detail, evidence, or decision] | [Owner] | [Open / Complete] |
[Add context, assumptions, exceptions, evidence links, screenshots, calculations, or reviewer comments.]
Link to related ADRs, design docs, or external resources. Use Markdown formatting. Be objective and thorough.
| Item | Details | Owner | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| [Item or requirement] | [Describe the relevant detail, evidence, or decision] | [Owner] | [Open / Complete] |
| [Item or requirement] | [Describe the relevant detail, evidence, or decision] | [Owner] | [Open / Complete] |
[Add context, assumptions, exceptions, evidence links, screenshots, calculations, or reviewer comments.]
Document review conclusions, approvals, unresolved items, and next review date.
| Role | Name | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preparer | [Name] | [Date] | [Notes] |
| Reviewer | [Name] | [Date] | [Notes] |
| Approver | [Name] | [Date] | [Notes] |
Deploy this template when architectural decisions require documentation, approval, or historical reference for technical teams.
This template produces a structured record documenting technical decisions, trade-offs, and long-term consequences.
Teams often skip alternatives analysis or bury decisions in vague language that obscures accountability.
Template Structure
Use this technical template as a starting point, then customize each section to match your internal workflow, evidence, and signoff needs.
Concise title and status (Proposed, Accepted, Deprecated, Superseded).
Describe the problem, constraints, and forces at play.
State the decision clearly. Explain the rationale.
List alternatives with pros and cons for each.
Describe positive, negative, and neutral consequences.
Link to related ADRs, design docs, or external resources. Use Markdown formatting. Be objective and thorough.
Write an Architecture Decision Record (ADR) in a neutral, analytical tone. Structure with these sections:
Concise title and status (Proposed, Accepted, Deprecated, Superseded).
Describe the problem, constraints, and forces at play.
State the decision clearly. Explain the rationale.
List alternatives with pros and cons for each.
Describe positive, negative, and neutral consequences.
Link to related ADRs, design docs, or external resources.
Use Markdown formatting. Be objective and thorough.
Status: Accepted | Date: 2026-01-15 | Author: Platform Team
Our event-sourcing architecture requires a durable, queryable event store. The system processes approximately 50,000 events per hour during peak load. We need strong consistency guarantees, support for complex queries on event metadata, and operational familiarity within the team.
We will use PostgreSQL with a dedicated events table as our event store, using JSONB columns for event payloads and B-tree indexes on stream identifiers.
| Option | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| EventStoreDB | Purpose-built, projections | New operational dependency, smaller community |
| Apache Kafka | High throughput, built-in partitioning | Not a database, complex consumer management |
| PostgreSQL | Team familiarity, ACID, rich querying | Not purpose-built, manual stream management |
pg_partman for table partitioning when event volume requires itAlready have a walkthrough or training video covering this process? Skip manual drafting. Upload the video and Docsie AI generates architecture decision record template with every required field populated — ready for review, signoff, or export.
Use the template manually, or let Docsie generate the first draft from source footage.
Complete reference for [API] endpoints and authentication
Schema reference for [database] tables and relationships
Integration instructions for [service] with [platform]
Technical spec for [system] architecture and design
Template FAQ
Common questions about downloading and generating a architecture decision record template.
Q: What is a architecture decision record template?
A: A architecture decision record template is a structured document for document architectural choices for [system] with trade-offs.
Q: Is the architecture decision record template really free?
A: Yes. The architecture decision record template is completely free to download in Word (DOCX), PDF, and Markdown formats. No signup or credit card required to download.
Q: How do I turn a video into a architecture Decision Record?
A: Upload a process walkthrough, training recording, or screen capture to Docsie. The AI analyzes the video and generates a complete architecture Decision Record using this template's structure — every required field auto-filled from the footage.
Q: Can I edit the architecture decision record template after downloading?
A: Yes. The DOCX format opens in Microsoft Word or Google Docs. The Markdown format imports into Notion, Confluence, Docsie, or any markdown editor. Customize fields, add your branding, and adapt to your internal workflow.