Summary
A new cost-assessment skill that runs a formal, structured Well-Architected
Cost Optimization Pillar assessment (COST 1–11) and produces a scored report —
the deeper counterpart to the tactical cost-check scan.
Motivation
Startups repeatedly need a documented, defensible cost baseline before
committing to Savings Plans / RIs or transitioning off Activate credits, which
cost-check (quick scan) and well-architected (all six pillars) don't cover.
Proposed Solution
A single SKILL.md under skills/cost-assessment/ using a read-only four-block
methodology (Discovery → Pricing & Savings → Demand & Supply → scored
Assessment), referencing the plugin's awspricing/awsknowledge tools, with a
"When to use this vs cost-check / well-architected" table to keep the boundary
explicit.
Alternatives Considered
Extending cost-check (rejected — would make the quick-scan skill heavier) or
folding into well-architected (rejected — that skill spans all six pillars).
Open Questions
Preferred name (cost-assessment vs wa-cost-review)? Reference aws-cost MCP
"when available" or standardize on shipped tools?
Drawbacks
Some adjacency to cost-check; mitigated by the differentiation table.
Summary
A new
cost-assessmentskill that runs a formal, structured Well-ArchitectedCost Optimization Pillar assessment (COST 1–11) and produces a scored report —
the deeper counterpart to the tactical
cost-checkscan.Motivation
Startups repeatedly need a documented, defensible cost baseline before
committing to Savings Plans / RIs or transitioning off Activate credits, which
cost-check(quick scan) andwell-architected(all six pillars) don't cover.Proposed Solution
A single
SKILL.mdunderskills/cost-assessment/using a read-only four-blockmethodology (Discovery → Pricing & Savings → Demand & Supply → scored
Assessment), referencing the plugin's
awspricing/awsknowledgetools, with a"When to use this vs cost-check / well-architected" table to keep the boundary
explicit.
Alternatives Considered
Extending
cost-check(rejected — would make the quick-scan skill heavier) orfolding into
well-architected(rejected — that skill spans all six pillars).Open Questions
Preferred name (
cost-assessmentvswa-cost-review)? Referenceaws-costMCP"when available" or standardize on shipped tools?
Drawbacks
Some adjacency to
cost-check; mitigated by the differentiation table.