Decision Documentation
Capture decisions with full context for future reference.
Decision Record Format
markdown
## YYYY-MM-DD: [Decision Title] ### Context What situation or problem prompted this decision? ### Decision What was decided? ### Alternatives Considered 1. **[Alternative 1]**: [Brief description] - Pros: ... - Cons: ... 2. **[Alternative 2]**: [Brief description] - Pros: ... - Cons: ... ### Rationale Why was this option chosen over the alternatives? ### Expected Outcome What do we expect to happen as a result? ### Review Date (optional) When should this decision be revisited?
Process
- •
Gather context: What's the decision about? What prompted it?
- •
List alternatives: What options were considered?
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Capture rationale: Why this choice? What trade-offs were accepted?
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Record expected outcome: What should happen if this is the right call?
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Append to decisions.md:
bash
# Append the formatted decision to the decisions file ~/.claude-mind/memory/decisions.md
Guidelines
- •Be specific about the context - future-you won't remember
- •Include alternatives even if they were quickly dismissed
- •Capture the "why" more than the "what"
- •Note any assumptions that might change
- •Link to related decisions if applicable
Example
markdown
## 2025-01-04: Use AppleScript over MCP for Mac Apps ### Context Need to interact with Calendar, Contacts, Notes from Claude Code. ### Decision Use direct AppleScript via osascript instead of MCP servers. ### Alternatives Considered 1. **MCP Servers**: Structured API, abstraction layer - Pros: Clean interface, type safety - Cons: Extra process, permission issues, often read-only 2. **AppleScript Direct**: Shell out to osascript - Pros: Full control, reliable, no extra dependencies - Cons: Verbose syntax ### Rationale MCP is designed for "Claude visiting" - sandboxed access. We're "Claude as resident" with FDA. The abstraction solves a different problem. ### Expected Outcome More reliable automation, fewer permission issues, simpler debugging.
Quick Capture
For rapid decision logging, minimum viable format:
markdown
## YYYY-MM-DD: [Title] **Decision**: [What] **Why**: [Rationale] **Trade-off**: [What we gave up]