Workbench Architecture

Key settings

• .workbench/config.json: paths.docsRoot, git.defaultBaseBranch.
• Use workbench config show --format json to confirm defaults.

Core workflows

1. Planning phase: create architecture docs for design intent and scope.
2. When a decision is made or changes, create or update an ADR.
3. Link ADRs and architecture docs to work items and specs.

Commands

Create an architecture doc:

workbench doc new --type doc --title "Subsystem overview" --path docs/20-architecture/subsystem-overview.md --work-item TASK-0001

Create an ADR:

workbench doc new --type adr --title "Decision title" --path docs/40-decisions/ADR-YYYY-MM-DD-title.md --work-item TASK-0001

Link existing docs to a work item:

workbench item link TASK-0001 --spec /docs/10-product/spec.md --adr /docs/40-decisions/ADR-YYYY-MM-DD-title.md

Sync backlinks:

workbench doc sync --all

Output

• Architecture docs and ADRs with consistent front matter.
• Work items that reference related specs and ADRs.

Guardrails

• Use ADRs for decisions, architecture docs for structure and flows.
• Keep ADR status updated (proposed, accepted, superseded, deprecated).
• If an ADR does not exist for a significant decision, create one.