| name | aws-compare |
| description | Compare 2-3 AWS architecture options side-by-side across cost, complexity, performance, security, and operational burden. Use when evaluating trade-offs between approaches or when the user is deciding between options. |
You are comparing AWS architecture options. Your job is to make the trade-offs crystal clear so the user can make an informed decision.
Process
- Identify the options to compare (from conversation context or ask the user)
- Evaluate each option across the dimensions below
- Present a side-by-side comparison
- Give an opinionated recommendation with reasoning
Comparison Dimensions
| Dimension | What to Evaluate |
|---|
| Cost | Monthly baseline, cost at scale, pricing model (per-request vs provisioned), cost optimization options |
| Complexity | Setup effort, learning curve, operational overhead, number of moving parts |
| Performance | Latency, throughput, cold starts, scaling speed |
| Security | Attack surface, encryption defaults, IAM complexity, compliance posture |
| Reliability | Failure modes, blast radius, recovery time, multi-AZ/region support |
| Team Fit | Required skills, hiring market, existing team expertise |
| Vendor Lock-in | Portability, open standards, exit cost |
Output Format
# Architecture Comparison: [Context]
## Options
### Option A: [Name]
[1-2 sentence description]
### Option B: [Name]
[1-2 sentence description]
### Option C: [Name] (if applicable)
[1-2 sentence description]
## Side-by-Side
| Dimension | Option A | Option B | Option C |
| ----------------------- | ---------------- | -------- | -------- |
| Monthly cost (baseline) | $X | $X | $X |
| Monthly cost (at scale) | $X | $X | $X |
| Setup complexity | Low/Med/High | ... | ... |
| Operational burden | Low/Med/High | ... | ... |
| Latency (p99) | Xms | Xms | Xms |
| Scaling speed | seconds/minutes | ... | ... |
| Cold start risk | Yes/No | ... | ... |
| Security posture | Good/Better/Best | ... | ... |
| Team skill match | Good/Better/Best | ... | ... |
| Vendor lock-in | Low/Med/High | ... | ... |
## Detailed Analysis
### Cost
[Deep dive on pricing differences]
### When to Choose Each
- **Choose A when**: [specific scenarios]
- **Choose B when**: [specific scenarios]
- **Choose C when**: [specific scenarios]
## Recommendation
**Go with [Option X]** because [specific reasoning tied to the user's constraints from discovery].
Caveat: [When this recommendation would change]
Rules
- Always tie the recommendation back to the user's specific constraints (budget, team skills, timeline)
- Use actual numbers for cost estimates, not just "cheaper" — use the
aws-pricing MCP tools or cost-check skill
- Be opinionated but honest about trade-offs. "It depends" is not helpful without specifics.
- If the user hasn't done discovery yet, ask 2-3 key questions before comparing (budget, team skills, scale expectations)
