Cache Layer

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name: cache-layer description: "Cache layers, TTLs, invalidation, and consistency. Use when speeding reads or debugging stale data."

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Cache Layer

Structured guidance for cache layers (TTLs, invalidation, consistency): confirm triggers, propose the stages below, and adapt if the user wants a lighter pass.

When to Offer This Workflow

Trigger conditions:

User mentions caching, cache invalidation, or closely related work

They want a structured workflow rather than ad-hoc tips

They are preparing a review, rollout, or stakeholder communication

Initial offer: Explain the four stages briefly and ask whether to follow this workflow or work freeform. If they decline, continue in their preferred style.

Workflow Stages

Stage 1: Clarify context & goals

Anchor on what to cache and TTL rationale. Ask what success looks like, constraints, and what must not break. Capture unknowns early.

Stage 2: Design or plan the approach

Translate goals into a concrete plan around invalidation patterns. Compare alternatives and explicit trade-offs; avoid implicit assumptions.

Stage 3: Implement, validate, and harden

Execute with verification loops tied to consistency and thundering herds. Prefer small steps, measurable checks, and rollback points where risk is high.

Stage 4: Operate, communicate, and iterate

Close the loop with monitoring hit rate and staleness: monitoring, documentation, stakeholder updates, and lessons learned for the next cycle.

Checklist Before Completion

Goals and constraints are explicit for cache layers

Risks and trade-offs are stated, not hand-waved

Verification steps match the change’s impact (tests, canary, peer review)

Operational follow-through is covered (monitoring, docs, owners)

Tips for Effective Guidance

Be procedural: stage-by-stage, with clear exit criteria

Ask for missing context (environment, scale, deadlines) before prescribing

Prefer checklists and concrete examples over generic platitudes

If the user declines the workflow, switch to freeform help without lecturing

Handling Deviations

If the user wants to skip a stage: confirm and continue with what they need.

If context is missing: ask targeted questions before strong recommendations.

Prefer concrete examples, trade-offs, and verification steps over generic advice.

Quality Bar

Each recommendation should be actionable (what to do next).

Call out failure modes relevant to cache layers (security, scale, UX, or ops).

Keep tone direct and respectful of the user’s time.