---
title: "Architecture Decision Records"
description: "Overview of ATLAS-GATE-MCP architectural decision records and their lifecycle"
version: "2.0.0"
last_updated: "2026-01-31"
review_date: "2026-04-30"
owners: ["architecture-team"]
tags: ["adr", "architecture", "decisions"]
audience: ["technical", "executive"]
---
# Architecture Decision Records (ADRs)
## Purpose
Architecture Decision Records (ADRs) capture important architectural decisions in the ATLAS-GATE-MCP project. Each ADR documents the context, decision, alternatives considered, and consequences of architectural choices.
## ADR Lifecycle
### Status Taxonomy
- **Proposed**: Decision is under consideration and review
- **Accepted**: Decision has been approved and implemented
- **Deprecated**: Decision is no longer current but may still be in use
- **Superseded**: Decision has been replaced by a newer decision
- **Rejected**: Decision was considered but not adopted
### ADR Process
1. **Proposal**: Create ADR with "Proposed" status
2. **Review**: Technical review and stakeholder feedback
3. **Decision**: Final decision made and status updated
4. **Implementation**: Decision implemented and documented
5. **Maintenance**: ADR updated as implementation evolves
## ADR Format
Each ADR follows the standardized MADR (Markdown Architecture Decision Record) format:
```markdown
# [Number]. [Title]
## Status
[Accepted/Proposed/Deprecated/Superseded/Rejected]
## Context
[Background and problem statement]
## Decision
[The architectural decision made]
## Rationale
[Why this decision was chosen]
## Alternatives Considered
[Alternative approaches and why they were rejected]
## Consequences
[Effects of this decision on the system]
## Implementation Notes
[Technical details about implementation]
```
## ADR Index
### Core Architecture Decisions
- [ADR-001: Dual-Role Governance Model](./001-dual-role-governance.md)
- [ADR-002: Plan-Based Authorization System](./002-plan-based-authorization.md)
- [ADR-003: Cryptographic Audit Logging](./003-cryptographic-audit-logging.md)
### Security and Compliance
- [ADR-004: Zero-Trust Execution Model](./004-zero-trust-execution.md)
- [ADR-005: Role-Based Access Control](./005-role-based-access-control.md)
- [ADR-006: Content Integrity Verification](./006-content-integrity-verification.md)
### Integration and Extensibility
- [ADR-007: MCP Protocol Compliance](./007-mcp-protocol-compliance.md)
- [ADR-008: Custom Policy Engine Architecture](./008-custom-policy-engine.md)
### Quality and Reliability
- [ADR-009: Stub Detection and Prevention](./009-stub-detection-prevention.md)
- [ADR-010: Comprehensive Testing Framework](./010-testing-framework.md)
## Decision Categories
### Strategic Decisions
High-level architectural decisions that affect the overall system design and long-term direction.
### Tactical Decisions
Specific implementation choices that address particular technical challenges or requirements.
### Operational Decisions
Decisions related to deployment, monitoring, maintenance, and operational procedures.
### Security Decisions
Decisions specifically related to security architecture, threat mitigation, and compliance.
## Review and Maintenance
### Regular Review
ADRs are reviewed quarterly to ensure they remain current and relevant to the evolving system.
### Update Process
When implementation details change or new information becomes available, ADRs are updated with:
- Clear indication of what changed
- Date and reason for the update
- Impact assessment of the change
### Supersession Process
When decisions are replaced:
- Original ADR is marked as "Superseded"
- New ADR references the superseded decision
- Migration implications are documented
## Contribution Guidelines
### Proposing New ADRs
1. Create new ADR following the standard format
2. Set status to "Proposed"
3. Submit for technical review
4. Address feedback and iterate
### Review Criteria
- Technical soundness and feasibility
- Alignment with project goals and constraints
- Consideration of alternatives and trade-offs
- Clarity and completeness of documentation
### Approval Process
- Technical review by architecture team
- Security review for security-related decisions
- Executive review for strategic decisions
- Final approval and status update
## Tools and Automation
### ADR Management
- ADRs stored in version control for full history
- Automated validation of ADR format and structure
- Integration with issue tracking for decision tracking
### Documentation Generation
- Automatic generation of ADR index and summaries
- Integration with static site generators
- Cross-referencing with related documentation
---
**Document Owner**: ATLAS-GATE MCP Architecture Team
**Review Frequency**: Quarterly
**Last Updated**: 2026-01-19
**Version**: 1.0.0
