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create-architectural-decision-record — GitHub Copilot skill

Creates an architectural decision record for a project. Use it to document why a solution was chosen and what follows from that choice.

Install into GitHub Copilot · Skills CLI (Vercel) All methods and platforms ↓
npx skills add github/awesome-copilot --skill create-architectural-decision-record
Open on GitHub

What create-architectural-decision-record does

This skill guides GitHub Copilot through an architectural decision record, or ADR. It uses the decision title, context, chosen solution, alternatives and stakeholders. If required details cannot be found in the conversation, the agent asks for them before creating the record.

The template covers the rationale, positive and negative consequences, and reasons for rejecting alternatives. It also has sections for implementation notes and references. Multi-item sections use coded bullets such as POS-001 and ALT-001.

The ADR is saved in /docs/adr/ as adr-NNNN-[title-slug].md, using the next sequential number. Install the skill if your project keeps ADRs and you want to follow this structure.

What it helps with

  • Create an ADR for an architectural decision
  • Record why alternatives were rejected
  • Document positive and negative consequences
  • Save a sequentially numbered ADR in /docs/adr/

Example prompts for the agent

  • Create an ADR for our database choice using the context and rationale above.
  • Document this architectural decision and explain why we rejected the alternatives.
  • Turn our discussion into an ADR and save it in `/docs/adr/`.

How to install create-architectural-decision-record

1Skills CLI (Vercel)

npx skills add github/awesome-copilot --skill create-architectural-decision-record

2GitHub CLI

gh skill install github/awesome-copilot create-architectural-decision-record

3Manually: put the files in place

.github/skills/create-architectural-decision-record/SKILL.md

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Questions about create-architectural-decision-record

How do I install create-architectural-decision-record in GitHub Copilot?

Run npx skills add github/awesome-copilot --skill create-architectural-decision-record.

What does create-architectural-decision-record do?

It creates an ADR covering the decision, its context and consequences, and the alternatives considered. The document is structured for people to read and machines to parse.

What information does the skill need to create an ADR?

It needs a decision title, context, decision, alternatives and stakeholders. The agent asks for required details if it cannot find them in the conversation.

Source text

SKILL.md · MIT
---
name: create-architectural-decision-record
description: 'Create an Architectural Decision Record (ADR) document for AI-optimized decision documentation.'
---

# Create Architectural Decision Record

Create an ADR document for `${input:DecisionTitle}` using structured formatting optimized for AI consumption and human readability.

## Inputs

- **Context**: `${input:Context}`
- **Decision**: `${input:Decision}`
- **Alternatives**: `${input:Alternatives}`
- **Stakeholders**: `${input:Stakeholders}`

## Input Validation
If any of the required inputs are not provided or cannot be determined from the conversation history, ask the user to provide the missing information before proceeding with ADR generation.

## Requirements

- Use precise, unambiguous language
- Follow standardized ADR format with front matter
- Include both positive and negative consequences
- Document alternatives with rejection rationale
- Structure for machine parsing and human reference
- Use coded bullet points (3-4 letter codes + 3-digit numbers) for multi-item sections

The ADR must be saved in the `/docs/adr/` directory using the naming convention: `adr-NNNN-[title-slug].md`, where NNNN is the next sequential 4-digit number (e.g., `adr-0001-database-selection.md`).

## Required Documentation Structure

The documentation file must follow the template below, ensuring that all sections are filled out appropriately. The front matter for the markdown should be structured correctly as per the example following:

```md
---
title: "ADR-NNNN: [Decision Title]"
status: "Proposed"
date: "YYYY-MM-DD"
authors: "[Stakeholder Names/Roles]"
tags: ["architecture", "decision"]
supersedes: ""
superseded_by: ""
---

# ADR-NNNN: [Decision Title]

## Status

**Proposed** | Accepted | Rejected | Superseded | Deprecated

## Context

[Problem statement, technical constraints, business requirements, and environmental factors requiring this decision.]

## Decision

[Chosen solution with clear rationale for selection.]

## Consequences

### Positive

- **POS-001**: [Beneficial outcomes and advantages]
- **POS-002**: [Performance, maintainability, scalability improvements]
- **POS-003**: [Alignment with architectural principles]

### Negative

- **NEG-001**: [Trade-offs, limitations, drawbacks]
- **NEG-002**: [Technical debt or complexity introduced]
- **NEG-003**: [Risks and future challenges]

## Alternatives Considered

### [Alternative 1 Name]

- **ALT-001**: **Description**: [Brief technical description]
- **ALT-002**: **Rejection Reason**: [Why this option was not selected]

### [Alternative 2 Name]

- **ALT-003**: **Description**: [Brief technical description]
- **ALT-004**: **Rejection Reason**: [Why this option was not selected]

## Implementation Notes

- **IMP-001**: [Key implementation considerations]
- **IMP-002**: [Migration or rollout strategy if applicable]
- **IMP-003**: [Monitoring and success criteria]

## References

- **REF-001**: [Related ADRs]
- **REF-002**: [External documentation]
- **REF-003**: [Standards or frameworks referenced]
```

© github · MIT · github/awesome-copilot

See also

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