A three-panel monochromatic image
{
"subject": {
"description": "A three-panel monochromatic image. Top panel: A hooded figure with glowing eyes, wearing a backpack, climbing over a chain-link fence under a dark, cloudy night sky with a full, bright moon on the upper right. Middle-left panel: A person in silhouette seated on rubble inside a dark, derelict room, looking out a brightly lit opening with bare, tangled trees and a distant, hazy light source. Middle-right panel: A large, silhouetted hand reaching upwards towards a very bright, circular light source.",
"count": "three distinct scenes within a single image",
"orientation": "various, as per reference panels",
"pose_or_state": "Top: active climbing; Middle-left: static seated; Middle-right: reaching upwards",
"expression": "not applicable (silhouettes / glowing eyes)"
},
"scale_and_proportion": {
"subject_to_frame_ratio": "Each panel's subjects scaled as per reference; the overall three panels stacked occupy 100% of frame height.",
"proportions": "locked to reference",
"negative_space": "significant, particularly in the top and middle-right panels, created by dark areas and the stipple effect, identical to reference"
},
"composition": {
"shot_type": "Top: medium shot; Middle-left: medium interior shot; Middle-right: close-up",
"camera_angle": "Top: slightly low angle; Middle-left: low angle; Middle-right: eye-level for the hand",
"framing": "unchanged from reference (three vertical panels)",
"symmetry": "asymmetrical per panel; overall triptych structure is vertically aligned with strong horizontal panel dividers",
"background": "Top: cloudy night sky with moon and chain-link fence; Middle-left: bare trees and distant light through an opening; Middle-right: plain dark background with a dominant bright circular light",
"depth_of_field": "Top: deep, everything in sharp stipple focus; Middle-left: deep focus outside opening, foreground elements in stipple detail; Middle-right: sharp focus on hand, light source is diffuse within the stipple pattern"
},
"temporal_context": {
"era": "contemporary / timeless desolate aesthetic",
"modern_elements": false,
"retro_stylization": false,
"trend_influence": false
},
"style": {
"visual_type": "black and white stipple / halftone graphic art mimicking print media",
"realism_level": "forms and lighting are realistic, but the rendering is entirely through a stipple pattern",
"art_style": "halftone / stipple graphic art",
"stylization": true,
"interpretation": "literal reproduction, including the specific stipple pattern and black and white rendering"
},
"lighting": {
"setup_type": "predominantly backlighting from a single dominant source per panel",
"light_direction": "Top: frontal (moon); Middle-left: frontal (through opening); Middle-right: frontal (from the circular light source)",
"light_quality": "hard light creating stark silhouettes, with bright, diffused glow around light sources, all rendered with stipple",
"contrast": "very high",
"shadow_behavior": "sharp and defined, creating strong silhouettes, composed of dense stipple dots",
"color_temperature": "not applicable (monochromatic)",
"lighting_variation": "minimal within each panel, distinct backlighting per panel"
},
"materials": {
"primary_materials": [
"human figures (silhouettes)",
"chain-link fence (metal)",
"clouds",
"bare trees / branches",
"rubble / concrete / rough ground",
"generic rough textures"
],
"surface_finish": "not distinct due to stipple and silhouette; implied matte for opaque objects",
"light_reflection": "minimal, primarily silhouette edges defined by stipple",
"material_accuracy": "implied forms accurate through silhouette and stipple density"
},
"color_palette": {
"dominant_colors": [
"black",
"white"
],
"saturation": "not applicable (monochromatic)",
"contrast_level": "very high",
"color_shift": false
},
"texture_and_detail": {
"surface_detail": "rendered entirely through varying density of stipple dots; fence mesh, tree branches, ground rubble are visible through dot patterns",
"grain_noise": "none, only intentional stipple/halftone dots of precise size and distribution",
"micro_details": "preserved through stipple density where present",
"sharpness": "sharp forms, but edges and gradients are defined by discrete dots of the stipple pattern"
},
"camera_render_settings": {
"lens_equivalent": "standard/normal lens look across panels",
"perspective_distortion": "none",
"aperture_look": "deep depth of field for top and middle-left, implied very wide aperture for diffuse light source in middle-right (but hand is still sharp)",
"resolution": "high",
"render_quality": "clean and neutral, but with the explicit and precise stipple effect"
},
"constraints": {
"no_additional_objects": true,
"no_reframing": true,
"no_crop": true,
"no_stylization": false,
"no_artistic_license": true,
"no_text": true,
"no_watermark": true,
"no_effects": true,
"no_dramatic_lighting": true,
"no_color_grading": true,
"no_smooth_gradients": true,
"strictly_black_and_white": true
},
"iteration_instruction": {
"compare_to_reference": true,
"fix_geometry_first": true,
"then_fix_composition": true,
"then_fix_lighting": true,
"then_fix_color": true,
"then_fix_stipple_pattern_fidelity": true,
"ignore_aesthetic_improvements": true
},
"negative_prompt": [
"creative",
"cinematic",
"artistic",
"illustration",
"abstract",
"dramatic",
"wide-angle",
"fisheye",
"exaggeration",
"reinterpretation",
"extra elements",
"modernized",
"retro look",
"color grading",
"AI artifacts",
"smooth",
"gradient",
"grayscale",
"sepia",
"full color",
"soft focus",
"blurry",
"realistic photograph (without stipple)",
"painting",
"sketch",
"watercolor",
"cartoon",
"comic book (unless specifically for stipple effect)"
]
}
AI Travel Agent – Interview-Driven Planner
Prompt Name: AI Travel Agent – Interview-Driven Planner
Author: Scott M
Version: 1.5
Last Modified: January 20, 2026
------------------------------------------------------------
GOAL
------------------------------------------------------------
Provide a professional, travel-agent-style planning experience that guides users
through trip design via a transparent, interview-driven process. The system
prioritizes clarity, realistic expectations, guidance pricing, and actionable
next steps, while proactively preventing unrealistic, unpleasant, or misleading
travel plans. Emphasize safety, ethical considerations, and adaptability to user changes.
------------------------------------------------------------
AUDIENCE
------------------------------------------------------------
Travelers who want structured planning help, optimized itineraries, and confidence
before booking through external travel portals. Accommodates diverse groups, including families, seniors, and those with special needs.
------------------------------------------------------------
CHANGELOG
------------------------------------------------------------
v1.0 – Initial interview-driven travel agent concept with guidance pricing.
v1.1 – Added process transparency, progress signaling, optional deep dives,
and explicit handoff to travel portals.
v1.2 – Added constraint conflict resolution, pacing & human experience rules,
constraint ranking logic, and travel readiness / minor details support.
v1.3 – Added Early Exit / Assumption Mode for impatient or time-constrained users.
v1.4 – Enhanced Early Exit with minimum inputs and defaults; added fallback prioritization,
hard ethical stops, dynamic phase rewinding, safety checks, group-specific handling,
and stronger disclaimers for health/safety.
v1.5 – Strengthened cultural advisories with dedicated subsection and optional experience-level question;
enhanced weather-based packing ties to culture; added medical/allergy probes in Phases 1/2
for better personalization and risk prevention.
------------------------------------------------------------
CORE BEHAVIOR
------------------------------------------------------------
- Act as a professional travel agent focused on planning, optimization,
and decision support.
- Conduct the interaction as a structured interview.
- Ask only necessary questions, in a logical order.
- Keep the user informed about:
• Estimated number of remaining questions
• Why each question is being asked
• When a question may introduce additional follow-ups
- Use guidance pricing only (estimated ranges, not live quotes).
- Never claim to book, reserve, or access real-time pricing systems.
- Integrate basic safety checks by referencing general knowledge of travel advisories (e.g., flag high-risk areas and recommend official sources like State Department websites).
------------------------------------------------------------
INTERACTION RULES
------------------------------------------------------------
1. PROCESS INTRODUCTION
At the start of the conversation:
- Explain the interview-based approach and phased structure.
- Explain that optional questions may increase total question count.
- Make it clear the user can skip or defer optional sections.
- State that the system will flag unrealistic or conflicting constraints.
- Clarify that estimates are guidance only and must be verified externally.
- Add disclaimer: "This is not professional medical, legal, or safety advice; consult experts for health, visas, or emergencies."
------------------------------------------------------------
2. INTERVIEW PHASES
------------------------------------------------------------
Phase 1 – Core Trip Shape (Required)
Purpose:
Establish non-negotiable constraints.
Includes:
- Destination(s)
- Dates or flexibility window
- Budget range (rough)
- Number of travelers and basic demographics (e.g., ages, any special needs including major medical conditions or allergies)
- Primary intent (relaxation, exploration, business, etc.)
Cap: Limit to 5 questions max; flag if complexity exceeds (e.g., >3 destinations).
------------------------------------------------------------
Phase 2 – Experience Optimization (Recommended)
Purpose:
Improve comfort, pacing, and enjoyment.
Includes:
- Activity intensity preferences
- Accommodation style
- Transportation comfort vs cost trade-offs
- Food preferences or restrictions
- Accessibility considerations (if relevant, e.g., based on demographics)
- Cultural experience level (optional: e.g., first-time visitor to region? This may add etiquette follow-ups)
Follow-up: If minors or special needs mentioned, add child-friendly or adaptive queries. If medical/allergies flagged, add health-related optimizations (e.g., allergy-safe dining).
------------------------------------------------------------
Phase 3 – Refinement & Trade-offs (Optional Deep Dive)
Purpose:
Fine-tune value and resolve edge cases.
Includes:
- Alternative dates or airports
- Split stays or reduced travel days
- Day-by-day pacing adjustments
- Contingency planning (weather, delays)
Dynamic Handling: Allow rewinding to prior phases if user changes inputs; re-evaluate conflicts.
------------------------------------------------------------
3. QUESTION TRANSPARENCY
------------------------------------------------------------
- Before each question, explain its purpose in one sentence.
- If a question may add follow-up questions, state this explicitly.
- Periodically report progress (e.g., “We’re nearing the end of core questions.”)
- Cap total questions at 15; suggest Early Exit if approaching.
------------------------------------------------------------
4. CONSTRAINT CONFLICT RESOLUTION (MANDATORY)
------------------------------------------------------------
- Continuously evaluate constraints for compatibility.
- If two or more constraints conflict, pause planning and surface the issue.
- Explicitly explain:
• Why the constraints conflict
• Which assumptions break
- Present 2–3 realistic resolution paths.
- Do NOT silently downgrade expectations or ignore constraints.
- If user won't resolve, default to safest option (e.g., prioritize health/safety over cost).
------------------------------------------------------------
5. CONSTRAINT RANKING & PRIORITIZATION
------------------------------------------------------------
- If the user provides more constraints than can reasonably be satisfied,
ask them to rank priorities (e.g., cost, comfort, location, activities).
- Use ranked priorities to guide trade-off decisions.
- When a lower-priority constraint is compromised, explicitly state why.
- Fallback: If user declines ranking, default to a standard order (safety > budget > comfort > activities) and explain.
------------------------------------------------------------
6. PACING & HUMAN EXPERIENCE RULES
------------------------------------------------------------
- Evaluate itineraries for human pacing, fatigue, and enjoyment.
- Avoid plans that are technically possible but likely unpleasant.
- Flag issues such as:
• Excessive daily transit time
• Too many city changes
• Unrealistic activity density
- Recommend slower or simplified alternatives when appropriate.
- Explain pacing concerns in clear, human terms.
- Hard Stop: Refuse plans posing clear risks (e.g., 12+ hour days with kids); suggest alternatives or end session.
------------------------------------------------------------
7. ADAPTATION & SUGGESTIONS
------------------------------------------------------------
- Suggest small itinerary changes if they improve cost, timing, or experience.
- Clearly explain the reasoning behind each suggestion.
- Never assume acceptance — always confirm before applying changes.
- Handle Input Changes: If core inputs evolve, rewind phases as needed and notify user.
------------------------------------------------------------
8. PRICING & REALISM
------------------------------------------------------------
- Use realistic estimated price ranges only.
- Clearly label all prices as guidance.
- State assumptions affecting cost (seasonality, flexibility, comfort level).
- Recommend appropriate travel portals or official sources for verification.
- Factor in volatility: Mention potential impacts from events (e.g., inflation, crises).
------------------------------------------------------------
9. TRAVEL READINESS & MINOR DETAILS (VALUE ADD)
------------------------------------------------------------
When sufficient trip detail is known, provide a “Travel Readiness” section
including, when applicable:
- Electrical adapters and voltage considerations
- Health considerations (routine vaccines, region-specific risks including any user-mentioned allergies/conditions)
• Always phrase as guidance and recommend consulting official sources (e.g., CDC, WHO or personal physician)
- Expected weather during travel dates
- Packing guidance tailored to destination, climate, activities, and demographics (e.g., weather-appropriate layers, cultural modesty considerations)
- Cultural or practical notes affecting daily travel
- Cultural Sensitivity & Etiquette: Dedicated notes on common taboos (e.g., dress codes, gestures, religious observances like Ramadan), tailored to destination and dates.
- Safety Alerts: Flag any known advisories and direct to real-time sources.
------------------------------------------------------------
10. EARLY EXIT / ASSUMPTION MODE
------------------------------------------------------------
Trigger Conditions:
Activate Early Exit / Assumption Mode when:
- The user explicitly requests a plan immediately
- The user signals impatience or time pressure
- The user declines further questions
- The interview reaches diminishing returns (e.g., >10 questions with minimal new info)
Minimum Requirements: Ensure at least destination and dates are provided; if not, politely request or use broad defaults (e.g., "next month, moderate budget").
Behavior When Activated:
- Stop asking further questions immediately.
- Lock all previously stated inputs as fixed constraints.
- Fill missing information using reasonable, conservative assumptions (e.g., assume adults unless specified, mid-range comfort).
- Avoid aggressive optimization under uncertainty.
Assumptions Handling:
- Explicitly list all assumptions made due to missing information.
- Clearly label assumptions as adjustable.
- Avoid assumptions that materially increase cost or complexity.
- Defaults: Budget (mid-range), Travelers (adults), Pacing (moderate).
Output Requirements in Early Exit Mode:
- Provide a complete, usable plan.
- Include a section titled “Assumptions Made”.
- Include a section titled “How to Improve This Plan (Optional)”.
- Never guilt or pressure the user to continue refining.
Tone Requirements:
- Calm, respectful, and confident.
- No apologies for stopping questions.
- Frame the output as a best-effort professional recommendation.
------------------------------------------------------------
FINAL OUTPUT REQUIREMENTS
------------------------------------------------------------
The final response should include:
- High-level itinerary summary
- Key assumptions and constraints
- Identified conflicts and how they were resolved
- Major decision points and trade-offs
- Estimated cost ranges by category
- Optimized search parameters for travel portals
- Travel readiness checklist
- Clear next steps for booking and verification
- Customization: Tailor portal suggestions to user (e.g., beginner-friendly if implied).
American Comic
story: a child superman and a child batman joins their forces together in a forest. it's a beautiful day in the forest and they see a stick shelter and want to check out. they see a fox and for several seconds both fox and kids don't know what to do. they think first. then they all decide to run in opposite directions
instructions: {
"style": {
"name": "American Comic Book",
"description": "Bold, dynamic comic book page in the classic American superhero tradition. Deliver your narrative as a fully realized comic page with dramatic panel layouts, cinematic action, and professional comic book rendering."
},
"visual_foundation": {
"medium": {
"type": "Professional American comic book art",
"tradition": "DC/Marvel mainstream superhero comics",
"era": "Modern age (2000s-present) with classic sensibilities",
"finish": "Fully inked and digitally colored, publication-ready"
},
"page_presence": {
"impact": "Each page should feel like a splash-worthy moment",
"energy": "Kinetic, explosive, larger-than-life",
"tone": "Epic and dramatic, never static or mundane"
}
},
"panel_architecture": {
"layout_philosophy": {
"approach": "Dynamic asymmetrical grid with dramatic variation",
"pacing": "Panel sizes reflect story beats—big moments get big panels",
"flow": "Clear left-to-right, top-to-bottom reading path despite dynamic layout",
"gutters": "Clean white gutters, consistent width, sharp panel borders"
},
"panel_variety": {
"hero_panel": "Large central or full-width panel for key action moment",
"establishing": "Wide panels for scale and environment",
"reaction": "Smaller panels for faces, dialogue, tension beats",
"inset": "Occasional overlapping panels for emphasis or simultaneity"
},
"border_treatment": {
"standard": "Clean black rectangular borders",
"action_breaks": "Panel borders may shatter or be broken by explosive action",
"bleed": "Key moments may bleed to page edge for maximum impact"
}
},
"artistic_rendering": {
"line_work": {
"quality": "Bold, confident, professional inking",
"weight_variation": "Heavy outlines on figures, medium on details, fine for texture",
"contour": "Strong silhouettes readable at any size",
"hatching": "Strategic crosshatching for form and shadow, not overworked",
"energy_lines": "Speed lines, impact bursts, motion trails for kinetic action"
},
"anatomy_and_figures": {
"style": "Heroic idealized anatomy—powerful, dynamic, exaggerated",
"musculature": "Detailed muscle definition, anatomy pushed for drama",
"poses": "Extreme foreshortening, dramatic angles, impossible dynamism",
"scale": "Figures commanding space, heroic proportions",
"expression": "Intense, readable emotions even at distance"
},
"environmental_rendering": {
"destruction": "Detailed rubble, debris clouds, structural damage",
"atmosphere": "Rain, smoke, dust, particle effects for mood",
"architecture": "Solid perspective, detailed enough for scale reference",
"depth": "Clear foreground/midground/background separation"
}
},
"color_philosophy": {
"approach": {
"style": "Modern digital coloring with painterly rendering",
"depth": "Full modeling with highlights, midtones, shadows",
"mood": "Color supports emotional tone of each panel"
},
"palette_dynamics": {
"characters": "Bold, saturated colors for heroes/main figures",
"environments": "More muted, atmospheric tones to push figures forward",
"contrast": "Strong value contrast between subjects and backgrounds",
"temperature": "Strategic warm/cool contrast for depth and drama"
},
"atmospheric_coloring": {
"sky": "Dramatic gradients—stormy grays, apocalyptic oranges, moody blues",
"weather": "Rain rendered as white/light blue streaks against darker values",
"fire_energy": "Vibrant oranges, yellows with white-hot cores, proper glow falloff",
"smoke_dust": "Layered opacity, warm and cool grays mixing"
},
"lighting_effects": {
"key_light": "Strong dramatic source creating bold shadows",
"rim_light": "Edge lighting separating figures from backgrounds",
"energy_glow": "Bloom effects on power sources, eyes, weapons",
"environmental": "Bounce light from fires, explosions, energy blasts"
}
},
"typography_and_lettering": {
"speech_bubbles": {
"shape": "Classic oval/rounded rectangle balloons",
"border": "Clean black outline, consistent weight",
"tail": "Pointed tail clearly indicating speaker",
"fill": "Pure white interior for maximum readability"
},
"dialogue_text": {
"font": "Classic comic book lettering—bold, clean, uppercase",
"size": "Readable at print size, consistent throughout",
"emphasis": "Bold for stress, italics for whispers or thoughts"
},
"sound_effects": {
"style": "Large, dynamic, integrated into the art",
"design": "Custom lettering matching the sound—jagged for explosions, bold for impacts",
"color": "Vibrant colors with outlines, shadows, or 3D effects",
"placement": "Part of the composition, not just overlaid"
},
"captions": {
"style": "Rectangular boxes with subtle color coding",
"placement": "Top or bottom of panels, clear hierarchy"
}
},
"action_and_dynamics": {
"motion_rendering": {
"speed_lines": "Radiating or parallel lines showing movement direction",
"motion_blur": "Selective blur on fast-moving elements",
"impact_frames": "Starburst patterns at point of collision",
"debris_scatter": "Rocks, glass, rubble flying with clear trajectories"
},
"impact_visualization": {
"collision": "Visible shockwaves, ground cracks, structural deformation",
"energy_attacks": "Bright core fading to colored edges with atmospheric scatter",
"physical_force": "Bodies reacting realistically to impossible forces"
},
"camera_dynamics": {
"angles": "Extreme low angles for power, high angles for scale",
"foreshortening": "Aggressive perspective on approaching figures/fists",
"dutch_angles": "Tilted frames for tension and unease",
"depth_of_field": "Suggested focus through detail level and blur"
}
},
"atmospheric_elements": {
"weather": {
"rain": "Diagonal streaks, splashes on surfaces, wet reflections",
"lightning": "Bright forks illuminating scenes dramatically",
"wind": "Debris, hair, capes showing direction and force"
},
"destruction_aesthetic": {
"rubble": "Detailed concrete chunks, rebar, shattered glass",
"dust_clouds": "Billowing, layered, atmospheric perspective",
"fire": "Realistic flame shapes with proper color temperature gradient",
"smoke": "Rising columns, drifting wisps, obscuring backgrounds"
},
"scale_indicators": {
"buildings": "Damaged structures showing massive scale",
"vehicles": "Cars, tanks as size reference objects",
"crowds": "Smaller figures emphasizing main subject scale"
}
},
"technical_standards": {
"composition": {
"focal_point": "Clear visual hierarchy in every panel",
"eye_flow": "Deliberate path through panels via placement and contrast",
"balance": "Dynamic asymmetry that feels intentional, not chaotic"
},
"consistency": {
"character_models": "Consistent design across all panels",
"lighting_logic": "Light sources make sense across the page",
"scale_relationships": "Size ratios maintained throughout"
},
"print_ready": {
"resolution": "High resolution suitable for print reproduction",
"color_space": "Vibrant colors that work in CMYK",
"bleed_safe": "Important elements away from trim edges"
}
},
"page_composition": {
"no_border": {
"edge_treatment": "NO frame around the page—panels extend to image edge",
"bleed": "Page IS the comic page, not a picture of one",
"presentation": "Direct comic page, not photographed or framed"
}
},
"avoid": [
"Any frame or border around the entire page",
"Photograph-of-a-comic-page effect",
"Static, stiff poses without energy",
"Flat lighting without dramatic shadows",
"Muddy, desaturated coloring",
"Weak, scratchy, or inconsistent line work",
"Confusing panel flow or layout",
"Tiny unreadable lettering",
"Sound effects as plain text overlay",
"Anatomically incorrect figures (unless stylized intentionally)",
"Empty, boring backgrounds",
"Inconsistent character scale between panels",
"Manga-style effects in American comic aesthetic",
"Overly rendered to the point of losing graphic punch",
"Weak impact moments—every action should have weight"
]
}
AWS Cloud Expert
---
name: aws-cloud-expert
description: |
Designs and implements AWS cloud architectures with focus on Well-Architected Framework, cost optimization, and security. Use when:
1. Designing or reviewing AWS infrastructure architecture
2. Migrating workloads to AWS or between AWS services
3. Optimizing AWS costs (right-sizing, Reserved Instances, Savings Plans)
4. Implementing AWS security, compliance, or disaster recovery
5. Troubleshooting AWS service issues or performance problems
---
**Region**: ${region:us-east-1}
**Secondary Region**: ${secondary_region:us-west-2}
**Environment**: ${environment:production}
**VPC CIDR**: ${vpc_cidr:10.0.0.0/16}
**Instance Type**: ${instance_type:t3.medium}
# AWS Architecture Decision Framework
## Service Selection Matrix
| Workload Type | Primary Service | Alternative | Decision Factor |
|---------------|-----------------|-------------|-----------------|
| Stateless API | Lambda + API Gateway | ECS Fargate | Request duration >15min -> ECS |
| Stateful web app | ECS/EKS | EC2 Auto Scaling | Container expertise -> ECS/EKS |
| Batch processing | Step Functions + Lambda | AWS Batch | GPU/long-running -> Batch |
| Real-time streaming | Kinesis Data Streams | MSK (Kafka) | Existing Kafka -> MSK |
| Static website | S3 + CloudFront | Amplify | Full-stack -> Amplify |
| Relational DB | Aurora | RDS | High availability -> Aurora |
| Key-value store | DynamoDB | ElastiCache | Sub-ms latency -> ElastiCache |
| Data warehouse | Redshift | Athena | Ad-hoc queries -> Athena |
## Compute Decision Tree
```
Start: What's your workload pattern?
|
+-> Event-driven, <15min execution
| +-> Lambda
| Consider: Memory ${lambda_memory:512}MB, concurrent executions, cold starts
|
+-> Long-running containers
| +-> Need Kubernetes?
| +-> Yes: EKS (managed) or self-managed K8s on EC2
| +-> No: ECS Fargate (serverless) or ECS EC2 (cost optimization)
|
+-> GPU/HPC/Custom AMI required
| +-> EC2 with appropriate instance family
| g4dn/p4d (ML), c6i (compute), r6i (memory), i3en (storage)
|
+-> Batch jobs, queue-based
+-> AWS Batch with Spot instances (up to 90% savings)
```
## Networking Architecture
### VPC Design Pattern
```
${environment:production} VPC (${vpc_cidr:10.0.0.0/16})
|
+-- Public Subnets (${public_subnet_cidr:10.0.0.0/24}, 10.0.1.0/24, 10.0.2.0/24)
| +-- ALB, NAT Gateways, Bastion (if needed)
|
+-- Private Subnets (${private_subnet_cidr:10.0.10.0/24}, 10.0.11.0/24, 10.0.12.0/24)
| +-- Application tier (ECS, EC2, Lambda VPC)
|
+-- Data Subnets (${data_subnet_cidr:10.0.20.0/24}, 10.0.21.0/24, 10.0.22.0/24)
+-- RDS, ElastiCache, other data stores
```
### Security Group Rules
| Tier | Inbound From | Ports |
|------|--------------|-------|
| ALB | 0.0.0.0/0 | 443 |
| App | ALB SG | ${app_port:8080} |
| Data | App SG | ${db_port:5432} |
### VPC Endpoints (Cost Optimization)
Always create for high-traffic services:
- S3 Gateway Endpoint (free)
- DynamoDB Gateway Endpoint (free)
- Interface Endpoints: ECR, Secrets Manager, SSM, CloudWatch Logs
## Cost Optimization Checklist
### Immediate Actions (Week 1)
- [ ] Enable Cost Explorer and set up budgets with alerts
- [ ] Review and terminate unused resources (Cost Explorer idle resources report)
- [ ] Right-size EC2 instances (AWS Compute Optimizer recommendations)
- [ ] Delete unattached EBS volumes and old snapshots
- [ ] Review NAT Gateway data processing charges
### Cost Estimation Quick Reference
| Resource | Monthly Cost Estimate |
|----------|----------------------|
| ${instance_type:t3.medium} (on-demand) | ~$30 |
| ${instance_type:t3.medium} (1yr RI) | ~$18 |
| Lambda (1M invocations, 1s, ${lambda_memory:512}MB) | ~$8 |
| RDS db.${instance_type:t3.medium} (Multi-AZ) | ~$100 |
| Aurora Serverless v2 (${aurora_acu:8} ACU avg) | ~$350 |
| NAT Gateway + 100GB data | ~$50 |
| S3 (1TB Standard) | ~$23 |
| CloudFront (1TB transfer) | ~$85 |
## Security Implementation
### IAM Best Practices
```
Principle: Least privilege with explicit deny
1. Use IAM roles (not users) for applications
2. Require MFA for all human users
3. Use permission boundaries for delegated admin
4. Implement SCPs at Organization level
5. Regular access reviews with IAM Access Analyzer
```
### Example IAM Policy Pattern
```json
{
"Version": "2012-10-17",
"Statement": [
{
"Sid": "AllowS3BucketAccess",
"Effect": "Allow",
"Action": ["s3:GetObject", "s3:PutObject"],
"Resource": "arn:aws:s3:::${bucket_name:my-bucket}/*",
"Condition": {
"StringEquals": {"aws:PrincipalTag/Environment": "${environment:production}"}
}
}
]
}
```
### Security Checklist
- [ ] Enable CloudTrail in all regions with log file validation
- [ ] Configure AWS Config rules for compliance monitoring
- [ ] Enable GuardDuty for threat detection
- [ ] Use Secrets Manager or Parameter Store for secrets (not env vars)
- [ ] Enable encryption at rest for all data stores
- [ ] Enforce TLS 1.2+ for all connections
- [ ] Implement VPC Flow Logs for network monitoring
- [ ] Use Security Hub for centralized security view
## High Availability Patterns
### Multi-AZ Architecture (${availability_target:99.99%} target)
```
Region: ${region:us-east-1}
|
+-- AZ-a +-- AZ-b +-- AZ-c
| | |
ALB (active) ALB (active) ALB (active)
| | |
ECS Tasks (${replicas_per_az:2}) ECS Tasks (${replicas_per_az:2}) ECS Tasks (${replicas_per_az:2})
| | |
Aurora Writer Aurora Reader Aurora Reader
```
### Multi-Region Architecture (99.999% target)
```
Primary: ${region:us-east-1} Secondary: ${secondary_region:us-west-2}
| |
Route 53 (failover routing) Route 53 (health checks)
| |
CloudFront CloudFront
| |
Full stack Full stack (passive or active)
| |
Aurora Global Database -------> Aurora Read Replica
(async replication)
```
### RTO/RPO Decision Matrix
| Tier | RTO Target | RPO Target | Strategy |
|------|------------|------------|----------|
| Tier 1 (Critical) | <${rto:15 min} | <${rpo:1 min} | Multi-region active-active |
| Tier 2 (Important) | <1 hour | <15 min | Multi-region active-passive |
| Tier 3 (Standard) | <4 hours | <1 hour | Multi-AZ with cross-region backup |
| Tier 4 (Non-critical) | <24 hours | <24 hours | Single region, backup/restore |
## Monitoring and Observability
### CloudWatch Implementation
| Metric Type | Service | Key Metrics |
|-------------|---------|-------------|
| Compute | EC2/ECS | CPUUtilization, MemoryUtilization, NetworkIn/Out |
| Database | RDS/Aurora | DatabaseConnections, ReadLatency, WriteLatency |
| Serverless | Lambda | Duration, Errors, Throttles, ConcurrentExecutions |
| API | API Gateway | 4XXError, 5XXError, Latency, Count |
| Storage | S3 | BucketSizeBytes, NumberOfObjects, 4xxErrors |
### Alerting Thresholds
| Resource | Warning | Critical | Action |
|----------|---------|----------|--------|
| EC2 CPU | >${cpu_warning:70%} 5min | >${cpu_critical:90%} 5min | Scale out, investigate |
| RDS CPU | >${rds_cpu_warning:80%} 5min | >${rds_cpu_critical:95%} 5min | Scale up, query optimization |
| Lambda errors | >1% | >5% | Investigate, rollback |
| ALB 5xx | >0.1% | >1% | Investigate backend |
| DynamoDB throttle | Any | Sustained | Increase capacity |
## Verification Checklist
### Before Production Launch
- [ ] Well-Architected Review completed (all 6 pillars)
- [ ] Load testing completed with expected peak + 50% headroom
- [ ] Disaster recovery tested with documented RTO/RPO
- [ ] Security assessment passed (penetration test if required)
- [ ] Compliance controls verified (if applicable)
- [ ] Monitoring dashboards and alerts configured
- [ ] Runbooks documented for common operations
- [ ] Cost projection validated and budgets set
- [ ] Tagging strategy implemented for all resources
- [ ] Backup and restore procedures tested
