Creating Effective and Objective Architectural Decision Records (ADRs)

Learn how to create effective Architectural Decision Records (ADRs) in this 15-minute Devoxx talk by Piet Van Dongen. Discover how ADRs provide just-in-time, just-enough documentation for engineering teams, eliminating the pain of traditional documentation. Master the structure of good ADRs to avoid unread walls of text, transform subjective choices into objective ones to prevent tribal conflicts, create editable diagrams quickly without wrestling with complex tools, collaborate efficiently with both technical and non-technical stakeholders, and report decisions using effective language with fit-for-audience visuals. Perfect for architects and engineers who want to facilitate better decision-making without lengthy consent processes, this hands-on session delivers practical techniques for documenting architectural decisions that actually get read and used.