Pros & Cons Analysis

Analyze the pros and cons of [SUBJECT] from the perspective of [PERSPECTIVE].

Structure your response as follows:

**Context** (2-3 sentences): What is [SUBJECT] and why does this decision matter?

**Pros**
List [N] advantages. For each, include:
- The benefit (bold)
- A 1-2 sentence explanation of why this matters for [PERSPECTIVE]
- Estimated magnitude: Low / Medium / High

**Cons**
List [N] disadvantages using the same format.

**Key Trade-offs**
Identify the 2-3 most important tensions between the pros and cons.

**Verdict**
Given [PRIORITY], which factors tip the balance and why?

How to Use

Replace [SUBJECT] with the decision or topic (e.g., "switching from PostgreSQL to MongoDB", "hiring a freelancer vs. a full-time employee"). Set [PERSPECTIVE] to specify whose viewpoint matters (e.g., "a small startup with 5 engineers", "a solo content creator"). Set [N] to control how many points you want (4–6 is usually best for clarity). Replace [PRIORITY] with your primary goal (e.g., "speed of development", "long-term cost").

Variables

Variable	Description
[SUBJECT]	The decision, option, or topic being evaluated
[PERSPECTIVE]	Who is making the decision — their context shapes which pros and cons are most relevant
[N]	Number of pros and cons to generate (4–6 recommended for balanced coverage without padding)
[PRIORITY]	The most important goal or constraint — used to weight the verdict

Tips

• Adding [PERSPECTIVE] is the single most impactful change you can make — the same decision looks very different to a large enterprise vs. a solo founder.
• Request that magnitude ratings (Low/Medium/High) be included so you can quickly see which factors actually move the needle.
• After getting the initial analysis, follow up with: "Which con is most commonly underestimated and why?" to surface risks that lists tend to downplay.