Architecture Decision Records (ADRs)

This directory contains the Architecture Decision Records for the Qubinode Navigator project.

Quick Navigation

📋 ADR Index - Comprehensive overview of all ADRs with relationships and navigation guide

Current Architecture Overview

The Qubinode Navigator follows a terminal-based one-shot deployment architecture with integrated AI assistance:

  • Primary Entry Point: ADR-0033 - Terminal-Based One-Shot Deployment
  • AI Integration: ADR-0034 - AI Assistant Terminal Integration
  • Documentation: ADR-0035 - Terminal-Centric Documentation

ADRs document the key architectural decisions made during the development and evolution of the system.

ADR Index

ADR Title Status Date Impact
ADR-0001 Container-First Execution Model with Ansible Navigator Accepted 2025-01-09 High
ADR-0002 Multi-Cloud Inventory Strategy with Environment-Specific Configurations Accepted 2025-01-09 High
ADR-0003 Dynamic Configuration Management with Python Accepted 2025-01-09 High
ADR-0004 Security Architecture with Ansible Vault and AnsibleSafe Accepted 2025-01-09 Critical
ADR-0005 KVM/Libvirt Virtualization Platform Choice Accepted 2025-01-09 High
ADR-0006 Modular Dependency Management Strategy Accepted 2025-01-09 Medium
ADR-0007 Bash-First Orchestration with Python Configuration Accepted 2025-01-09 Medium
ADR-0008 OS-Specific Deployment Script Strategy Accepted 2025-01-09 High
ADR-0009 Cloud Provider-Specific Configuration Management Accepted 2025-01-09 High
ADR-0010 Progressive SSH Security Model Accepted 2025-01-09 Critical
ADR-0011 Comprehensive Platform Validation Through Research Analysis Accepted 2025-01-09 High
ADR-0023 Enhanced Configuration Management with Template Support and HashiCorp Vault Integration Accepted 2025-07-09 High
ADR-0024 Vault-Integrated Setup Script Security Enhancement Accepted 2025-07-10 Critical
ADR-0025 Ansible Tooling Modernization and Security Strategy Proposed 2025-07-10 Critical
ADR-0026 RHEL 10/CentOS 10 Platform Support Strategy Proposed 2025-11-07 High
ADR-0027 CPU-Based AI Deployment Assistant Architecture Proposed 2025-11-07 High
ADR-0028 Modular Plugin Framework for Extensibility Proposed 2025-11-07 High
ADR-0029 Documentation Strategy and Website Modernization Proposed 2025-11-07 High
ADR-0030 Software and OS Update Strategy Proposed 2025-11-07 High
ADR-0031 Setup Script Modernization Strategy Proposed 2025-11-07 High

ADRs by Category

Infrastructure & Deployment

  • ADR-0001: Container-First Execution Model with Ansible Navigator
  • ADR-0002: Multi-Cloud Inventory Strategy with Environment-Specific Configurations
  • ADR-0005: KVM/Libvirt Virtualization Platform Choice
  • ADR-0008: OS-Specific Deployment Script Strategy
  • ADR-0009: Cloud Provider-Specific Configuration Management
  • ADR-0026: RHEL 10/CentOS 10 Platform Support Strategy
  • ADR-0031: Setup Script Modernization Strategy

Configuration & Automation

  • ADR-0003: Dynamic Configuration Management with Python
  • ADR-0007: Bash-First Orchestration with Python Configuration
  • ADR-0023: Enhanced Configuration Management with Template Support and HashiCorp Vault Integration
  • ADR-0025: Ansible Tooling Modernization and Security Strategy
  • ADR-0030: Software and OS Update Strategy

Security & Operations

  • ADR-0004: Security Architecture with Ansible Vault and AnsibleSafe
  • ADR-0010: Progressive SSH Security Model
  • ADR-0024: Vault-Integrated Setup Script Security Enhancement

Architecture & Design

  • ADR-0006: Modular Dependency Management Strategy
  • ADR-0027: CPU-Based AI Deployment Assistant Architecture
  • ADR-0028: Modular Plugin Framework for Extensibility

Validation & Research

  • ADR-0011: Comprehensive Platform Validation Through Research Analysis

Documentation & User Experience

  • ADR-0029: Documentation Strategy and Website Modernization

ADRs by Impact Level

Critical Impact

  • ADR-0004: Security Architecture with Ansible Vault and AnsibleSafe
  • ADR-0010: Progressive SSH Security Model
  • ADR-0024: Vault-Integrated Setup Script Security Enhancement
  • ADR-0025: Ansible Tooling Modernization and Security Strategy

High Impact

  • ADR-0001: Container-First Execution Model with Ansible Navigator
  • ADR-0002: Multi-Cloud Inventory Strategy with Environment-Specific Configurations
  • ADR-0003: Dynamic Configuration Management with Python
  • ADR-0005: KVM/Libvirt Virtualization Platform Choice
  • ADR-0008: OS-Specific Deployment Script Strategy
  • ADR-0009: Cloud Provider-Specific Configuration Management
  • ADR-0011: Comprehensive Platform Validation Through Research Analysis
  • ADR-0023: Enhanced Configuration Management with Template Support and HashiCorp Vault Integration
  • ADR-0026: RHEL 10/CentOS 10 Platform Support Strategy
  • ADR-0027: CPU-Based AI Deployment Assistant Architecture
  • ADR-0028: Modular Plugin Framework for Extensibility
  • ADR-0029: Documentation Strategy and Website Modernization
  • ADR-0030: Software and OS Update Strategy
  • ADR-0031: Setup Script Modernization Strategy

Medium Impact

  • ADR-0006: Modular Dependency Management Strategy
  • ADR-0007: Bash-First Orchestration with Python Configuration

Key Architectural Themes

🏗️ Infrastructure Automation

The project adopts a comprehensive infrastructure automation approach using:

  • Containerized Execution: Ansible Navigator with standardized execution environments
  • Multi-Cloud Support: Environment-specific inventory management
  • Virtualization: KVM/libvirt for VM management and orchestration

🔧 Configuration Management

Dynamic and flexible configuration management through:

  • Automated Discovery: Python-based system and network discovery
  • Environment Adaptation: Automatic configuration for different deployment targets
  • Structured Data: YAML-based configuration with validation

🔒 Security Architecture

Security-first design with:

  • Credential Protection: Ansible Vault with AnsibleSafe enhancement
  • Environment Isolation: Separate security contexts per environment
  • Access Control: Role-based access and audit trails

🎯 Modular Design

Extensible and maintainable architecture featuring:

  • Service Integration: Modular dependency management for external services
  • Language Specialization: Bash for orchestration, Python for configuration
  • Loose Coupling: Independent modules with clear interfaces

Decision Relationships 

graph TD
    A[ADR-0001: Container Execution] --> B[ADR-0002: Multi-Cloud Strategy]
    A --> C[ADR-0003: Dynamic Configuration]
    B --> C
    C --> D[ADR-0004: Security Architecture]
    A --> E[ADR-0005: KVM/Libvirt Platform]
    B --> F[ADR-0006: Modular Dependencies]
    C --> G[ADR-0007: Bash-Python Orchestration]
    D --> F
    E --> F

Implementation Status

✅ Fully Implemented

  • Container-first execution with Ansible Navigator
  • Multi-cloud inventory strategy
  • Dynamic configuration management
  • Security architecture with Vault
  • KVM/libvirt virtualization
  • Modular dependency management
  • Bash-Python orchestration

🔄 Ongoing Evolution

  • Additional cloud provider integrations
  • Enhanced security features
  • Performance optimizations
  • Monitoring and observability

Future ADR Candidates

Potential High-Priority ADRs

  • Testing Strategy: Automated testing approach and frameworks
  • Monitoring & Observability: System monitoring and alerting strategy
  • Disaster Recovery: Backup and recovery procedures
  • Performance Optimization: System performance tuning decisions

Potential Medium-Priority ADRs

  • Documentation Strategy: Documentation tooling and maintenance approach
  • CI/CD Pipeline: Continuous integration and deployment strategy
  • Compliance Framework: Regulatory compliance and audit procedures
  • User Interface: Management interface and user experience decisions

ADR Process

Creating New ADRs

  1. Identify Decision: Recognize a significant architectural decision
  2. Research Alternatives: Evaluate different approaches and trade-offs
  3. Document Decision: Use the established ADR template format
  4. Review Process: Stakeholder review and approval
  5. Implementation: Execute the architectural decision
  6. Update Index: Add to this index and update relationships

ADR Template

New ADRs should follow the established template structure:

  • Status: Proposed, Accepted, Deprecated, Superseded
  • Context: Problem statement and constraints
  • Decision: The architectural choice made
  • Consequences: Positive and negative impacts
  • Alternatives: Options considered and rejected
  • Evidence: Supporting information and rationale

Review and Maintenance

  • Regular Reviews: Quarterly ADR review sessions
  • Status Updates: Update ADR status as decisions evolve
  • Relationship Mapping: Maintain decision dependency relationships
  • Archive Management: Properly archive superseded decisions

Contributing

When contributing to the architectural decisions:

  1. Follow Template: Use the established ADR format
  2. Provide Evidence: Include concrete evidence from codebase analysis
  3. Consider Alternatives: Document alternative approaches considered
  4. Impact Assessment: Clearly articulate consequences and trade-offs
  5. Stakeholder Input: Engage relevant stakeholders in the decision process

Contact

For questions about architectural decisions or the ADR process:

  • Project Maintainers: Primary contacts for architectural guidance
  • DevOps Team: Infrastructure and deployment decisions
  • Security Team: Security-related architectural choices
  • Development Teams: Implementation and technical decisions

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