# Architecture Decision Record Template, Free Source: https://nerix.ai/templates/architecture-decision-record Record a technical decision with its context, options, reasons and consequences, for the team to find later. ## Fill it in and preview You are signed in. Fill it in your workspace and it is kept as a document you can send, share and have signed. [Open in your workspace](https://app.nerix.ai/documents/templates/architecture-decision-record) ### ADR-0012 : Use PostgreSQL for the orders service **Status:** Status **Date:** 12 March 2027 **Decision makers:** Platform team lead, orders team lead, security engineer ## Context The orders service stores 20 million rows and needs transactions across tables. The current store has no transaction support and the team has no experience running it. ## What matters most Data consistency Team experience Running cost Ability to scale to 5x in two years ## Options considered 1. PostgreSQL, managed. Strong transactions, team knows it, higher cost. 2. A document database. Fast to start, weaker joins and transactions. 3. Stay with the current store. No migration, but the problem remains. ## Decision We will use managed PostgreSQL for the orders service. ## Why It meets the consistency need, the team can support it, and cost is acceptable within the platform budget. ## Consequences Good: simpler code and safer orders. Bad: a three month migration and a yearly hosting cost. We must plan the data move and a rollback. ## When to revisit If volume passes 100 million rows or hosting costs double. ## Related Replaces ADR-0004. Related: ADR-0009. Templates are a careful starting point, not legal advice. Where the law matters, check what applies where you are. IT and projects ## What this template is for An architecture decision record: the context, options considered, decision, reasons and consequences, so the team remembers why a technical choice was made. It is free to fill in online, needs no account, and downloads as a Word document or a PDF. [See all IT and projects templates](https://nerix.ai/templates/it-projects) IT and projects ## What you fill in The form asks for 13 details. The document fills itself in as you type. - ### Record number For example: ADR-0012 - ### Decision title For example: Use PostgreSQL for the orders service - ### Status - ### Date For example: 12 March 2027 - ### Decision makers For example: Platform team lead, orders team lead, security engineer - ### Context The problem, the forces and the limits. For example: The orders service stores 20 million rows and needs transactions across tables. The current store has no transaction support and the team has no experience running it. - ### What matters most One per line, most important first. For example: Data consistency Team experience Running cost Ability to scale to 5x in two years - ### Options considered Include the options you rejected. For example: 1. PostgreSQL, managed. Strong transactions, team knows it, higher cost. 2. A document database. Fast to start, weaker joins and transactions. 3. Stay with the current store. No migration, but the problem remains. - ### Decision For example: We will use managed PostgreSQL for the orders service. - ### Why For example: It meets the consistency need, the team can support it, and cost is acceptable within the platform budget. - ### Consequences Both good and bad. For example: Good: simpler code and safer orders. Bad: a three month migration and a yearly hosting cost. We must plan the data move and a rollback. - ### When to revisit optional For example: If volume passes 100 million rows or hosting costs double. - ### Related decisions and links optional For example: Replaces ADR-0004. Related: ADR-0009. IT and projects ## What is inside The parts of this document, in order. - 1 Context - 2 What matters most - 3 Options considered - 4 Decision - 5 Why - 6 Consequences - 7 When to revisit - 8 Related Templates ## How it works - 01 ### Fill in Type your details in the form. The document fills itself in as you type; click any gap to jump to its field. - 02 ### Check Read it through. Gaps you have not filled stay marked, so nothing goes out half done. - 03 ### Download Save it as a Word document to edit further, or as a PDF to send or print. ### Make it yours with AI Open it in the chat and ask for changes: shorter, firmer, another situation, another language. [Adapt it with nerix](https://nerix.ai/try?template=architecture-decision-record) ### Was this template helpful? IT and projects ## Questions people ask ### What details does this template ask for? The form asks for 13 details, starting with Record number, Decision title, Status, Date, Decision makers. 2 more are optional. ### Can I download this template as Word or PDF? Yes. When you have filled in the form, save it as a Word document to keep editing, or as a PDF to send or print. It is free and needs no account. ### Is what I type sent anywhere? No. What you type stays in your browser while you fill in the document. It only goes to nerix if you choose to open the template in the chat. ### Are these IT and project templates free? Most are. Fill in and download them for free as Word or PDF, with no account. A few longer documents are premium: free to fill in, paid once to download, and marked with their price. ### Does a security policy make us secure? No document does that alone. A policy helps when it matches what people really do, so keep it short, explain it to your team and review it every year. ### Is a project charter only for large projects? 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