ADR communications

Context

The TPA-RFC process was previously trying to address both the decision-making process, the documentation around the decisions, and communicating the decision to affected parties, an impossible task.

Decision

Communications to affected parties should now be produced and sent separately from the decision record.

More Information

In the new ADR process, communications to affected parties (the "informed" in the template) is separate from the decision record. The communication does not need to be recorded in the documentation system: a simple email can be sent to the right mailing list, forum, or, in case of major maintenance, the status site.

Decision makers are strongly encouraged to have a third-party review and edit their communications before sending.

There is no strict template for outgoing communications, but writers are strongly encouraged to follow the Five Ws method (Who? What? When? Where? Why?) and keep things simple.

Note that this proposal is part of a set of 3 complementary proposals:

• ADR-0100: Replace the TPA-RFC template with ADR Nygard
• ADR-0101: Adopt the ADR process in replacement of TPA-RFCs
• ADR-0102: ADR communications

Metadata

• status: approved
• decision-date: 2025-12-08 (in two weeks)
• decision-makers: TPA team lead
• consulted: tpa-team@lists.torproject.org
• informed: tor-project@lists.torproject.org
• forum-url: https://gitlab.torproject.org/tpo/tpa/team/-/issues/41428