Before a single line of code is written on any Axionbay project, we conduct what we call the Blueprint Review: a structured architectural decision process that produces a permanent record of our intent, constraints, and anticipated consequences.
What Is an ADR?
An Architectural Decision Record (ADR) is a short document that captures a significant architectural decision along with its context and consequences. ADRs are not design documents—they do not describe the entire system. They capture the decision points: the moments where multiple valid approaches existed and a choice was made.
Our ADR Template
Each ADR at Axionbay contains five sections: (1) Status—proposed, accepted, deprecated, or superseded; (2) Context—the technical and business forces at play; (3) Decision—the specific choice made; (4) Consequences—the positive and negative results of the decision; (5) Alternatives Considered—the rejected options and why.
Why This Matters
Six months into a project, the original engineering team may have changed. The business context may have shifted. Without ADRs, the new team inherits an opaque system whose architectural choices appear arbitrary. With ADRs, every decision has a documented rationale—including the constraints that no longer exist and might justify revisiting a choice.
The Review Protocol
The Blueprint Review is a 90-minute session at project initiation. We identify the top 5–10 architectural decisions with the highest consequence—database selection, API protocol, authentication strategy, deployment model, state management approach—and document an ADR for each. This investment pays dividends throughout the engagement.