# Archgate

> Enterprise-grade linting and guardrails for AI work. Write an ADR once. Enforce it everywhere.

Archgate is a free, open-source CLI tool that makes Architecture Decision Records (ADRs) executable. It provides linting and guardrails that AI coding agents and humans follow alike.

## Key Concepts

- **Executable ADRs**: Architecture decisions written in Markdown with companion TypeScript rules that are automatically enforced in CI and by AI agents
- **The Learning Loop**: A self-improving cycle. AI writes code with ADRs as context, automated rules check compliance, AI reviews what rules can't catch, and findings become new rules
- **AI Agent Alignment**: AI coding agents (Claude Code, Cursor, Copilot) read your ADRs before writing code, producing compliant output on the first try

## Pages

- [Why Archgate](https://archgate.dev/why-archgate): The case for executable architecture decisions over passive documentation
- [For Engineering Leaders](https://archgate.dev/for-leaders): AI guardrails that scale without slowing teams down
- [For Teams](https://archgate.dev/for-teams): Alignment without the overhead. Every role benefits
- [Compare Tools](https://archgate.dev/compare): How Archgate complements linters (ESLint, Biome, Ruff) and type checkers
- [Documentation](https://docs.archgate.dev): Full CLI documentation, quick start, and guides
- [GitHub](https://github.com/archgate/cli): Source code, issues, and discussions

## How It Works

1. Write an Architecture Decision Record in Markdown (the decision, context, consequences)
2. Add TypeScript rules alongside the ADR that encode "do this, don't do that"
3. AI agents read the ADRs as context before generating code
4. `archgate check` runs rules in CI. Exit code 1 blocks non-compliant merges
5. The architect skill reviews what automated rules can't catch
6. Violations found in review become new automated rules. The system self-improves

## Installation

```bash
# macOS / Linux
curl -fsSL https://cli.archgate.dev/install-unix | sh

# Windows (PowerShell)
irm https://cli.archgate.dev/install-windows | iex
```

## Integrations

- **Claude Code**: Complete guardrails plugin with developer agent, architect, quality-manager, adr-author, and onboard skills
- **Cursor**: Developer agent and guardrail skills for Cursor's AI assistant
- **VS Code**: Extension that distributes Archgate's skills to GitHub Copilot. Install from the marketplace or via `archgate plugin install --editor vscode`
- **GitHub Copilot**: Reads ADRs through the VS Code extension
- **CI/CD**: Works with GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, or any CI system via `archgate check`
- **Any Editor**: The CLI runs anywhere your code does

## Technical Details

- **License**: Apache-2.0 (free and open source, forever)
- **Platforms**: macOS (ARM), Linux (x64), Windows (x64)
- **Language**: TypeScript
- **Rules**: Written in TypeScript, run in milliseconds, deterministic
- **Check speed**: Automated rules execute in milliseconds