Capture, document, and maintain architecture decisions alongside your system diagrams and technical documentation. Stop losing decisions in Slack threads, PR comments, and forgotten tickets.
Decisions stay searchable
Context stays attached
Changes stay traceable
Architecture decisions happen in Slack threads, PR comments, and ticket discussions. Without structure, decisions lack context, ownership, and traceability. Teams debate the same questions repeatedly because the original reasoning isn't documented.
Cavaro is an architecture decision record tool built inside a unified architecture documentation workspace. Create ADRs that link directly to system diagrams, service documentation, and version history. Keep a living decision log that stays current as your architecture evolves.
Your decision log stays current because ADRs live alongside the architecture they document. When diagrams change, linked decisions are easy to find and update. When assumptions shift, teams can revisit and revise decisions with full context.
When an architectural choice is made, create an ADR using the structured template. Document the problem, context, and constraints that led to the decision.
Document the business context, technical constraints, and assumptions that influenced the decision. This context helps future teams understand why a choice was made.
List the alternatives considered, their pros and cons, and why the chosen option was selected. This prevents repeated debates and helps teams make informed choices.
Record the final decision, who made it, and when. Assign an owner responsible for revisiting the decision if assumptions change.
Connect the ADR to relevant architecture diagrams, service documentation, and affected components. This creates a traceable link between decisions and implementation.
When business requirements, technical constraints, or assumptions change, update the ADR or mark it as superseded. Keep the decision log current and relevant.
Use structured templates with sections for problem, context, options, decision, and consequences. Ensure consistency across all architecture decision records.
Maintain a complete audit trail of decision changes. See when decisions were made, updated, or superseded. Track the evolution of architectural choices over time.
Connect ADRs directly to architecture diagrams, service documentation, and related decisions. Create a traceable network of decisions and their impact on the system.
Find decisions quickly by service, status, owner, or date. Search across all ADRs to discover relevant context for current architectural questions.
Collaborate on decisions with comments and suggestions. Review ADRs before finalizing, and get team input on architectural choices.
Track decision status through lifecycle stages: Proposed, Accepted, Deprecated, or Superseded. Know which decisions are active and which have been replaced.
| Feature | Cavaro | Generic Docs-Only | Ticket-Based Tracking | Wiki Pages |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structured ADR Templates | ✓ Built-in templates | Manual formatting | No structure | Inconsistent format |
| Links to Architecture Diagrams | ✓ Direct links | Separate tools | No diagram links | Manual links |
| Versioning & Traceability | ✓ Full audit trail | Basic versioning | Ticket history only | No versioning |
| Discoverability/Search | ✓ Advanced filters | Basic search | Ticket search | Limited search |
| Onboarding Usefulness | ✓ Context-rich | Requires context | Hard to navigate | Scattered info |
Standardize decision-making across services. Document service-level architecture decisions, API design choices, and platform standards. Ensure consistency while allowing teams to make informed choices.
Document networking, IAM, storage, and reliability decisions. Link infrastructure ADRs to architecture diagrams showing how cloud resources connect. Keep infrastructure decisions traceable and reviewable.
Document why security controls exist and how they were chosen. Link security decisions to compliance requirements and architecture diagrams. Maintain audit trails for security and compliance reviews.
Move fast without losing context. Capture decisions quickly with templates, link them to diagrams, and keep them searchable. Onboard new engineers faster with documented "why" behind architectural choices.
Help new team members understand the "why" behind the architecture. Read ADRs linked to diagrams and services to understand past decisions, tradeoffs, and current state. Reduce onboarding time and questions.
An architecture decision record (ADR) is a document that captures an important architectural decision, the context that led to it, the alternatives considered, and the consequences. ADRs help teams understand why architectural choices were made and provide a searchable record of decision-making over time.
An ADR should include: the problem or question being addressed, the context and constraints that influenced the decision, the options considered with their tradeoffs, the decision made, who made it and when, and the expected consequences. Linking ADRs to architecture diagrams and affected services provides additional context.
Write an ADR when making an architectural decision that affects multiple services, introduces a new pattern or technology, changes how teams work, or has long-term consequences. Not every small decision needs an ADR, but significant architectural choices should be documented to prevent repeated debates and provide context for future decisions.
The best architecture decision record tool combines structured ADR templates with links to architecture diagrams and service documentation. Cavaro provides ADR templates, versioning, search and filters, and direct links to system diagrams, making it ideal for teams that need to maintain a living decision log alongside their architecture documentation.
ADRs explain the "why" behind architecture, while system architecture documentation shows the "what" and "how". Linking ADRs to architecture diagrams and service documentation creates a complete picture: diagrams show the current state, and ADRs explain the decisions that led to that state. Together, they provide both context and implementation details.
Keep ADRs current by revisiting them when assumptions change, requirements shift, or new information becomes available. Update the ADR with new context, mark it as superseded if replaced by a new decision, or deprecate it if no longer relevant. Linking ADRs to architecture diagrams makes it easier to identify when decisions need review as the system evolves.
Cavaro is the architecture decision record tool that connects decisions to living documentation. Create ADRs with structured templates, link them to architecture diagrams and services, and maintain a searchable decision log that evolves with your system.
No credit card required. Get started in minutes.
