one-three-one-rule

# 1-3-1 Communication Rule Structured decision-making format for when a task has multiple viable approaches and the user needs a clear recommendation. Produces a concise problem framing, three options with trade-offs, and an actionable plan for the recommended path. ## When to Use - The user explicitly asks for a "1-3-1" response. - The user says "give me options" or "what are my choices" for a technical decision. - A task has multiple viable approaches with meaningful trade-offs (architecture, tooling, migration strategy). - The user needs a proposal they can forward to a team or stakeholder. Do NOT use for simple questions with one obvious answer, debugging sessions, or tasks where the user has already decided on an approach. ## Procedure 1. **Problem** (one sentence) - State the core decision or desired outcome in a single concise sentence. - Focus on the *what*, not the *how* — no implementation details, tool names, or specific technologies. - Keep it tight. If you need "and", you're describing two problems. 2. **Options** (exactly three) - Present three distinct, viable approaches labeled A, B, C. - Each option gets a brief description, pros, and cons. - Options should represent genuinely different strategies, not minor variations of the same approach. 3. **Recommendation** (one option) - State which option you recommend and why, based on the user's context and priorities. - Be direct — this is your professional judgment, not a hedge. 4. ...