Backend Design

Use this skill to design robust backend changes before implementation.

The Process

Step 1: Define backend objective

Clarify:

• business objective
• service boundary
• latency/reliability expectations

Step 2: Define API and contract changes

Specify:

• endpoints/events
• request/response schemas
• error model and status mapping

Step 3: Define data model and migrations

Document:

• schema changes
• migration strategy
• backward-compatibility approach

Step 4: Define security and observability

Include:

• authn/authz requirements
• rate limiting/abuse controls
• logging, metrics, tracing
• alerting conditions

Step 5: Define rollout and verification

Provide:

• phased rollout or feature flags
• rollback strategy
• verification checks and commands

Output Format

# [Feature Name] Backend Design Spec

## Objective
- Goal:
- Service boundary:

## API Contracts
- Endpoint/event definitions:
- Request/response schema:
- Error model:

## Data Model
- Schema changes:
- Migration plan:
- Compatibility notes:

## Security and Reliability
- Authn/authz:
- Abuse controls:
- Reliability constraints:

## Observability
- Logs:
- Metrics:
- Traces:
- Alerts:

## Rollout and Verification
- Rollout plan:
- Rollback plan:
- Verification commands/evidence:

Quality Bar

• Contracts must be explicit and testable
• Migration and rollback must be present for schema changes
• Verification must include observable evidence

When to Use

Use this skill when the task directly matches the workflow described above.

When Not to Use

Do not use this skill when the request is unrelated, low-stakes, or better handled by a simpler direct response.