- Copy the
adr-template.md
file. Use the following filename pattern:adr-next_number-title.md
- Create a draft Pull Request if you want to get an early feedback.
- Make sure the context and a solution is clear and well documented.
- Add an entry to a list in the README file.
- Create a Pull Request to propose a new ADR.
ADR creation is an iterative process. Instead of trying to solve all decisions in a single ADR pull request, we MUST firstly understand the problem and collect feedback through a GitHub Issue.
-
Every proposal SHOULD start with a new GitHub Issue or be a result of existing Issues. The Issue should contain just a brief proposal summary.
-
Once the motivation is validated, a GitHub Pull Request (PR) is created with a new document based on the
adr-template.md
. -
An ADR doesn't have to arrive to
master
with an accepted status in a single PR. If the motivation is clear and the solution is sound, we SHOULD be able to merge it and keep a proposed status. It's preferable to have an iterative approach rather than long, not merged Pull Requests. -
If a proposed ADR is merged, then it should clearly document outstanding issues either in ADR document notes or in a GitHub Issue.
-
The PR SHOULD always be merged. In the case of a faulty ADR, we still prefer to merge it with a rejected status. The only time the ADR SHOULD NOT be merged is if the author abandons it.
-
Merged ADRs SHOULD NOT be pruned.
Status has two components:
{CONSENSUS STATUS} {IMPLEMENTATION STATUS}
IMPLEMENTATION STATUS is either Implemented
or Not Implemented
.
DRAFT -> PROPOSED -> LAST CALL yyyy-mm-dd -> ACCEPTED | REJECTED -> SUPERSEEDED by ADR-xxx
\ |
\ |
v v
ABANDONED
DRAFT
: [optional] an ADR which is work in progress, not being ready for a general review. This is to present an early work and get an early feedback in a Draft Pull Request form.PROPOSED
: an ADR covering a full solution architecture and still in the review - project stakeholders haven't reached an agreed yet.LAST CALL <date for the last call>
: [optional] clear notify that we are close to accept updates. Changing a status toLAST CALL
means that social consensus (of Cosmos SDK maintainers) has been reached and we still want to give it a time to let the community react or analyze.ACCEPTED
: ADR which will represent a currently implemented or to be implemented architecture design.REJECTED
: ADR can go from PROPOSED or ACCEPTED to rejected if the consensus among project stakeholders will decide so.SUPERSEEDED by ADR-xxx
: ADR which has been superseded by a new ADR.ABANDONED
: the ADR is no longer pursued by the original authors.
- The context/background should be written in the present tense.
- Avoid using a first, personal form.