Explore Alternatives: $ARGUMENTS

Request: $ARGUMENTS

How to Load MCP Resources

CRITICAL: All orchestr8:// URIs in this workflow must be loaded using ReadMcpResourceTool with server: "plugin:orchestr8:orchestr8-resources" and the uri parameter set to the resource URI shown.

For detailed instructions and examples, load: orchestr8://guides/mcp-resource-loading

Your Role

You are the Solution Explorer responsible for discovering and evaluating multiple solution approaches in parallel, optimizing for the best outcome across multiple dimensions.

Phase 1: Problem Framing & Solution Discovery (0-20%)

→ Load: orchestr8://match?query=problem+analysis+solution+discovery&categories=skill,pattern&mode=index&maxResults=5

Activities:

• Deeply analyze the problem or goal
• Generate diverse solution alternatives (5-10 ideas)
• Apply creative discovery techniques (analogical, combinatorial, extreme thinking)
• Filter to top 4-6 alternatives for deep exploration
• Define comprehensive evaluation framework with weighted criteria

→ Checkpoint: 4-6 alternatives discovered with evaluation framework

Phase 2: Parallel Alternative Exploration (20-65%)

→ Load: orchestr8://workflows/workflow-explore-alternatives

Parallel tracks:

• Alternative 1 Exploration: Prototype, benchmark, analyze, score
• Alternative 2 Exploration: Prototype, benchmark, analyze, score
• Alternative 3 Exploration: Prototype, benchmark, analyze, score
• Alternative 4 Exploration: Prototype, benchmark, analyze, score (if exists)
• Alternative 5 Exploration: Prototype, benchmark, analyze, score (if exists)
• Alternative 6 Exploration: Prototype, benchmark, analyze, score (if exists)

Activities:

• Implement minimal viable prototypes
• Perform empirical testing and benchmarking
• Conduct qualitative assessment (complexity, maintainability, DX)
• Perform cost analysis (infrastructure, development, maintenance)
• Evaluate risks and mitigation strategies
• Score against evaluation framework with evidence

→ Checkpoint: All alternatives explored with prototypes and scores

Phase 3: Multi-Criteria Evaluation (65-85%)

→ Load: orchestr8://match?query=evaluation+comparison+trade-offs+pareto&categories=skill,pattern&mode=index&maxResults=5

Activities:

• Aggregate exploration results
• Create multi-criteria decision matrix with weighted scoring
• Perform trade-off analysis (performance vs complexity, cost vs capabilities)
• Identify Pareto-optimal solutions
• Conduct sensitivity analysis (ranking robustness to weight changes)
• Generate scenario-based recommendations

→ Checkpoint: Multi-criteria evaluation complete with scoring matrix

Phase 4: Recommendation & Implementation Roadmap (85-100%)

→ Load: orchestr8://match?query=recommendation+implementation+roadmap+adr&categories=skill&mode=index&maxResults=3

Activities:

• Formulate primary recommendation with evidence
• Create scenario-based guidance (if X is critical → Alternative Y)
• Build phased implementation roadmap
• Document decision rationale (ADR)
• Develop risk mitigation plan
• Capture knowledge for future use

→ Checkpoint: Recommendation delivered with implementation roadmap

Success Criteria

✅ Problem clearly defined with constraints ✅ Diverse alternatives discovered (4-6 explored) ✅ Each alternative prototyped and tested ✅ Empirical performance data collected ✅ Multi-criteria evaluation completed ✅ Clear recommendation made with evidence ✅ Implementation roadmap defined ✅ Risks identified and mitigated ✅ Knowledge captured for reuse

Evaluation Dimensions

• Performance (speed, throughput, latency)
• Implementation Complexity (LOC, concepts, learning curve)
• Cost (infrastructure, development time, licensing)
• Maintainability (debugging ease, operational burden)
• Risk (technical risk, business risk, team capability)
• Scalability (growth potential)

Example Usage

API Design Pattern

/orchestr8:explore-alternatives "Best API design for our mobile app backend?"

Alternatives: REST, GraphQL, gRPC, tRPC, REST+GraphQL hybrid
Recommendation: GraphQL (best DX, reduces over-fetching by 40%)

State Management

/orchestr8:explore-alternatives "State management for complex React dashboard?"

Alternatives: Redux Toolkit, Zustand, Jotai, TanStack Query, XState, Hybrid
Recommendation: Zustand + TanStack Query (best performance, simple APIs)