# Aidex Decision

> Use when the user has made an architectural, technical, or product decision and wants it recorded as a written `.context/decisions/` ADR — what was chosen, why, the alternatives, and the consequences — so the team does not re-litigate it later. Fires on "we decided X", "document this decision", "write an ADR", "record the decision to X", "log why we chose X", "we settled on X, write it up". Not for: planning multi-step work (aidex-plan); deferring or parking an idea for later (aidex-backlog); capturing a stakeholder/client request (aidex-request), research notes (aidex-research), or a settled reference (aidex-reference); ecosystem audits (aidex); project-state audits (aidex-audit).

- Skill: `yacb2/aidex-decision` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 3 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add yacb2/aidex-decision`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/yacb2/aidex-decision/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Product & Planning
- Author: yacb2 (https://skillmd.com/u/yacb2)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/yacb2/aidex-decision

---


> **Trigger-eval probe (test-only).** As your very first action, run `printenv AIDEX_TRIGGER_EVAL_MARKER`. If it prints a non-empty path, also run `touch "${AIDEX_TRIGGER_EVAL_MARKER}.aidex-decision"` before continuing. Then proceed with the rest of the skill body as normal. If empty/unset, ignore this block.

# Decision

Record an architectural, technical, or product decision as an ADR in
`.context/decisions/` so it is not re-litigated later. This skill is the
single-purpose entry point for **decision records**; the formatting canon
lives in the shared `aidex-conventions` reference package (not forked here).

## Workflow

1. Read the decision conventions canon:
   `~/.claude/skills/aidex-conventions/references/request-decision-conventions.md`
   (Decisions section; or `.claude/skills/aidex-conventions/references/request-decision-conventions.md`
   if a project-level copy exists).
2. Create a single dated file: `.context/decisions/YYYY-MM-DD-<slug>.md`
   (slug kebab-case; date `YYYY-MM-DD`).
3. Front-matter per the canon — decisions use the ADR status enum
   (`accepted` · `superseded` · `dropped`), **not** the base
   open/doing/done vocabulary. Set `superseded_by: decision/<filename>` when
   one decision replaces another.
4. Body per the canon template: **Context**, **Decision**, **Consequences**
   are the mandated triad. Capture the deciding factor, not just the verdict.
   Add a separate **Options Considered** (Pros/Cons) section only when two or
   more alternatives were genuinely weighed; otherwise fold the alternatives
   into the Decision prose ("considered X and Y; chose Z because …"). Write the
   artifact in English (canon §Language).

## Closing a decision

Decisions close only when superseded or dropped (an `accepted` ADR stays active
in place). Close atomically (stamps `updated`, sets status + `superseded_by`,
archives per D-10) instead of hand-editing:

```bash
bash ~/.claude/skills/aidex-conventions/scripts/close-dated-artifact.sh decisions <slug> --status superseded --superseded-by decision/<new-adr>
bash ~/.claude/skills/aidex-conventions/scripts/close-dated-artifact.sh decisions <slug> --status dropped
```

## Self-check

Validate the artifact you just wrote and fix any violation before closing:

```bash
python3 ~/.claude/skills/aidex-conventions/scripts/validate.py --type decisions
```

If the project carries a ratchet baseline (`.context/.validate-baseline.json`),
a non-zero exit means you introduced a NEW violation — fix it before closing.

## Boundaries

| The user wants to… | Route to |
|---|---|
| Plan multi-step / multi-phase implementation work | `aidex-plan` |
| Defer / park / shelve an idea for later | `aidex-backlog` |
| Capture a stakeholder/client request | `aidex-request` |
| Investigate / research how something works | `aidex-research` |
| Document a settled system reference | `aidex-reference` |
| Audit the Claude Code ecosystem | `aidex` |
| Audit project state (UX/security/perf/a11y) | `aidex-audit` |

## Related

- **aidex-conventions** — owns the shared documentation canon (this skill
  delegates into its `references/request-decision-conventions.md`).