aget-assess-tradeoffs

Analyze trade-offs between competing concerns and quality attributes. Provides structured decision support for architectural choices.

Instructions

When this skill is invoked:

1. Identify Competing Concerns

   • List quality attributes in tension
   • Document the options being considered
   • Note constraints and context

2. Evaluate Options

   • Rate each option against each quality attribute
   • Use consistent scale (1-5 or Low/Med/High)
   • Consider both immediate and long-term effects

3. Assess Reversibility

   • Classify decisions: One-way door vs. Two-way door
   • Note cost of changing later
   • Identify lock-in risks

4. Formulate Recommendation

   • Provide clear recommendation
   • Explain trade-off resolution rationale
   • Document rejected alternatives

Output Format

## Trade-off Analysis: [Decision Topic]

### Context

[What decision needs to be made and why]

### Competing Concerns

| Quality Attribute | Option A | Option B | Option C |
|-------------------|:--------:|:--------:|:--------:|
| Performance | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ | ⭐ |
| Maintainability | ⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ |
| Cost | ⭐⭐ | ⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Time to Market | ⭐ | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |

### Reversibility Assessment

| Option | Reversibility | Cost to Change | Lock-in Risk |
|--------|---------------|----------------|--------------|
| A | Low | High | Significant |
| B | High | Low | Minimal |
| C | Medium | Medium | Moderate |

### Recommendation

**Choose**: [Option X]

**Rationale**: [Why this trade-off resolution is appropriate given context]

**What We're Trading**: [Quality we're deprioritizing] for [Quality we're prioritizing]

### Rejected Alternatives

| Option | Why Rejected |
|--------|--------------|
| [Option Y] | [Specific reason] |

### Conditions for Revisiting

- Revisit if: [Condition that would change the analysis]

Constraints

• C1: NEVER pretend trade-offs don't exist — architectural honesty requires acknowledging costs
• C2: NEVER recommend without explaining trade-off resolution — recommendations need justification
• C3: NEVER treat all quality attributes as equally important — context determines priority

Related

• SKILL-019: aget-assess-tradeoffs specification
• ONTOLOGY_architect.yaml: Trade_off, Quality_Attribute, Decision concepts
• CAP-ARC-002: Trade-off Assessment capability