Decision Documentation Skill
Records architectural (ADR) and business logic (BIZ) decisions to DECISIONS.md.
When to Use
- •Making an architectural choice (framework, pattern, structure)
- •Defining business logic rules (calculations, limits, behavior)
- •Choosing between multiple valid approaches
- •After debugging reveals a non-obvious behavior requirement
Decision Types
| Prefix | Use For | Examples |
|---|---|---|
ADR | Architecture | Tech stack, patterns, code organization |
BIZ | Business logic | Calculations, rules, validation logic |
Workflow
1. Determine Next Number
Read DECISIONS.md and find highest ADR-NNN or BIZ-NNN number:
bash
grep -E "^### (ADR|BIZ)-[0-9]+" DECISIONS.md | tail -1
Use next number in sequence (project uses single sequence for both types).
2. Determine Date Section
Decisions are grouped by date. Check if today's date section exists:
- •If yes: Add under existing date header
- •If no: Create new date section at TOP (after template, before previous entries)
3. Add Decision Entry
Format (add at TOP of decisions, newest first):
markdown
## YYYY-MM-DD: {Category}
### {ADR|BIZ}-NNN: {Title}
**Context:** What situation prompted this decision?
**Options considered:** (if applicable)
1. Option A - description
2. Option B - description
**Decision:** What was decided?
**Reasoning:** Why this choice?
4. Commit
bash
git add DECISIONS.md
git commit -m "docs: add {ADR|BIZ}-NNN {short-title}"
Examples
Architecture decision:
markdown
### ADR-010: Use Svelte Stores for State **Context:** Need to share vehicle data between components. **Decision:** Use Svelte stores (not context or props drilling). **Reasoning:** Stores are simpler, reactive, and match existing patterns in codebase.
Business logic decision:
markdown
### BIZ-012: Round Consumption to 2 Decimal Places **Context:** Display precision for l/100km values. **Decision:** Always round to 2 decimal places for display. **Reasoning:** Matches Excel output and is sufficient precision for legal documents.
Notes
- •Keep entries concise - future you needs quick scanning
- •Always include reasoning - the "why" matters most
- •Link to tech debt if decision creates known limitations
- •Use "Options considered" only when multiple approaches were evaluated