Architecture Decision Record skill for Claude and Codex

Architecture Decision Record as an AI skill. It asks for Decision title, Context, Options considered and 4 more, then does the rest. Free to install in Claude…

Install it once and Claude or Codex runs it for you. When your request matches, your AI loads the skill, asks for anything it is missing, and works through the template itself. Prefer to fill it in by hand? See the full prompt template.

Download the skill (.zip) · View SKILL.md

When it is used

Use when a technical or architectural choice has been made or proposed and needs a durable record of context, options and consequences. Do not use for a full design document or meeting minutes. Related topics: coding, writing.

What it will ask you for

• Decision title (free text, e.g. "A short noun phrase such as Use Postgres for events")
• Context (longer free text)
• Options considered (longer free text)
• Chosen option (free text, e.g. "What was picked")
• Reason for choosing it (longer free text)
• Status (choose one: Proposed, Accepted, Superseded, Deprecated)
• Decision makers (free text, e.g. "Names or roles")

How it works

1. Write the context so a stranger understands the problem, constraints and deadline without being told the answer.
2. Describe each option fairly in two or three lines with its cost, including the rejected ones.
3. State the decision as one active sentence and give the deciding reasons in order of weight.
4. List consequences, covering what gets easier, what gets harder and the trigger that would reopen the decision.
5. Add date, status, decision makers and links to related records, and trim to one page.

What you get

A one-page ADR with title, status, date, context, options, decision, consequences and revisit trigger, in that order.

What it watches out for

• Describing rejected options as obviously bad, which hides the trade-offs the next reader needs to see.
• Listing only benefits under consequences, so the real cost surfaces later as a surprise.
• Leaving out the date and status, which makes an old record look like current policy.

How to install

Claude.ai and the Claude desktop app

1. Download the skill .zip.
2. Open Settings, then Capabilities, and find Skills.
3. Choose Upload skill and select the .zip.
4. Ask Claude for help with the task. It loads the skill when your request matches.

Claude Code

1. Download the skill .zip.
2. Unzip it into ~/.claude/skills/ (or .claude/skills/ inside a project).
3. Start a new session. Claude Code loads the skill when your request matches.

Codex

1. Download the skill .zip.
2. Unzip it into ~/.agents/skills/ (or .agents/skills/ inside a project).
3. Codex picks it up on its own. Type $ and the skill name to use it, or just ask for the task.

Cursor

1. Download the Cursor rule (.mdc).
2. Save it in .cursor/rules/ inside your project.
3. Cursor's agent applies the rule when your request matches its description.

AGENTS.md (Codex, Cursor, and other coding agents)

1. Copy the AGENTS.md section.
2. Paste it into AGENTS.md at the root of your repository, creating the file if needed.
3. Coding agents that read AGENTS.md follow it when your request fits.