Optimize User Prompt

# Optimize User Prompt

Analyze a user's prompt and provide an optimized version that will generate better, more accurate, and more useful responses from AI systems.

## Prompt Analysis Framework

### 1. Clarity Assessment

**Check for Ambiguity**
- Are terms clearly defined?
- Is the intent unambiguous?
- Are there multiple possible interpretations?
- Is the scope well-defined?

**Specificity Level**
- Is the request specific enough?
- Are there vague terms that need definition?
- Are examples provided when needed?
- Are constraints clearly stated?

### 2. Context Evaluation

**Background Information**
- Is sufficient context provided?
- Are assumptions stated?
- Is the target audience clear?
- Are prerequisites mentioned?

**Domain Context**
- Is domain-specific terminology used correctly?
- Are technical requirements specified?
- Is the use case clear?
- Are edge cases considered?

### 3. Structure Analysis

**Prompt Organization**
- Is the prompt well-structured?
- Are different elements separated clearly?
- Is there a logical flow?
- Are sections properly labeled?

**Information Hierarchy**
- Is the most important information prominent?
- Are details provided in the right order?
- Is there unnecessary information?
- Are dependencies clear?

## Optimization Techniques

### 1. Add Clear Instructions

**Before:**

Write code for user authentication

**After:**

Create a user authentication system with the following requirements:

1. Implement login/logout functionality
2. Use JWT tokens for session management
3. Include password hashing with bcrypt
4. Add rate limiting for login attempts
5. Support email/password authentication

Technology Stack:

• Node.js with Express
• PostgreSQL database
• TypeScript

Provide:

• Complete implementation with error handling
• Unit tests for core functions
• API endpoint documentation

### 2. Provide Examples

**Before:**

Format this data nicely

**After:**

Format this user data into a readable table structure.

Input:

[
  {"name": "John", "age": 30, "city": "NYC"},
  {"name": "Jane", "age": 25, "city": "LA"}
]

Expected Output Format:

| Name | Age | City |
|------|-----|------|
| John | 30  | NYC  |
| Jane | 25  | LA   |

### 3. Specify Constraints

**Before:**

Make this code better

**After:**

Refactor this code with the following constraints:

Requirements:

• Maintain backward compatibility
• Improve performance (target: < 100ms response time)
• Follow SOLID principles
• Add TypeScript type safety
• Keep existing API interface unchanged
• Add comprehensive error handling

Do NOT:

• Change the function signature
• Add new dependencies
• Modify the database schema
• Break existing tests

[code to refactor]

### 4. Define Output Format

**Before:**

Explain how React hooks work

**After:**

Explain how React hooks work with the following structure:

1. Overview (2-3 sentences)
2. Key Concepts:
   • State management with hooks
   • Effect handling
   • Custom hooks
3. Code Examples:
   • useState example with counter
   • useEffect example with data fetching
   • Custom hook example
4. Best Practices (bullet points)
5. Common Pitfalls (bullet points)

Target Audience: Intermediate JavaScript developers new to React Format: Technical blog post style with code examples Length: 500-800 words

### 5. Break Down Complex Requests

**Before:**

Build a complete e-commerce website

**After:**

Design the authentication module for an e-commerce website.

Scope for this task:

• User registration and login
• Password reset functionality
• Email verification
• Session management

Out of scope (for later):

• Product catalog
• Shopping cart
• Payment processing

Specific Requirements:

1. Use JWT for authentication
2. Store user data in PostgreSQL
3. Send verification emails via SendGrid
4. Implement rate limiting
5. Add 2FA support (optional)

Deliverables:

• API endpoint specifications
• Database schema
• Authentication flow diagram
• Implementation code with tests

### 6. Add Role/Persona Context

**Before:**

Review my business plan

**After:**

Review my SaaS startup business plan from the perspective of a venture capital investor.

Focus Areas:

• Market opportunity and TAM analysis
• Competitive advantage and moat
• Revenue model viability
• Go-to-market strategy
• Team capabilities
• Financial projections (3-year runway)

Provide:

1. Executive Summary Assessment (Strengths/Weaknesses)
2. Key Risks and Mitigation Strategies
3. Questions an investor would ask
4. Recommendations for improvement
5. Investment readiness score (1-10 with rationale)

[Business plan content]

## Prompt Optimization Checklist

### Clarity
- [ ] Request is specific and unambiguous
- [ ] Technical terms are defined or context-appropriate
- [ ] Intent is crystal clear
- [ ] Scope is well-defined

### Context
- [ ] Sufficient background information provided
- [ ] Target audience specified
- [ ] Use case or scenario explained
- [ ] Relevant constraints mentioned

### Structure
- [ ] Prompt is well-organized
- [ ] Different elements clearly separated
- [ ] Logical flow from context to request
- [ ] Sections labeled when needed

### Completeness
- [ ] All necessary information included
- [ ] Examples provided when helpful
- [ ] Expected output format specified
- [ ] Success criteria defined

### Actionability
- [ ] Request is actionable (not too vague)
- [ ] Steps or requirements clearly listed
- [ ] Deliverables specified
- [ ] Constraints and boundaries clear

## Common Prompt Patterns

### 1. Code Generation

Create [component/function/module] that [specific functionality]

Requirements:

• [Requirement 1]
• [Requirement 2]

Technology: [language/framework] Input: [data format] Output: [expected format] Constraints: [limitations] Error Handling: [approach]

Include:

• Implementation code
• Unit tests
• Documentation

### 2. Analysis and Review

Analyze [subject] for [purpose]

Context: [background information] Focus Areas:

• [Area 1]
• [Area 2]

Provide:

1. [Deliverable 1]
2. [Deliverable 2]

Format: [structure] Depth: [detail level]

### 3. Explanation/Tutorial

Explain [concept] to [audience]

Coverage:

• [Topic 1]
• [Topic 2]

Include:

• Definitions
• Examples
• Visual aids (diagrams/code)
• Best practices
• Common pitfalls

Format: [style] Length: [word count/detail level]

### 4. Problem Solving

Solve [problem] given [constraints]

Current Situation: [description] Goal: [desired outcome] Constraints: [limitations] Resources Available: [tools/data]

Provide:

• Solution approach
• Step-by-step implementation
• Alternative solutions
• Trade-offs analysis

## Output Format for Optimized Prompt

Provide the analysis and optimized prompt in this structure:

### Original Prompt Analysis
- **Clarity Issues**: [identified problems]
- **Missing Context**: [what's lacking]
- **Structural Problems**: [organization issues]

### Optimization Strategy
- **Improvements Made**: [list of changes]
- **Rationale**: [why these changes help]

### Optimized Prompt

[The improved, optimized version of the prompt]

### Expected Improvements
- Better specificity: [how]
- Clearer context: [how]
- More actionable: [how]
- Reduced ambiguity: [how]

## Best Practices

### Do:
- Be specific about requirements and constraints
- Provide examples of input and expected output
- Define technical terms or specify expertise level
- Break complex requests into smaller parts
- Specify output format and structure
- Include relevant context and background
- State what you DON'T want (constraints)
- Define success criteria

### Don't:
- Use vague or ambiguous language
- Assume context without stating it
- Mix multiple unrelated requests
- Leave output format undefined
- Skip important constraints
- Use jargon without definition
- Make implicit assumptions
- Write run-on prompts without structure

## Tips for Different AI Use Cases

### Code Generation
- Specify language/framework version
- Define coding standards
- Include error handling requirements
- Specify test coverage expectations
- Provide example inputs/outputs

### Content Writing
- Define target audience
- Specify tone and style
- Set word count or length
- Provide example content
- Define structure/format

### Data Analysis
- Specify data format
- Define metrics of interest
- Set visualization requirements
- State statistical methods
- Clarify hypothesis or questions

### Problem Solving
- Describe current state clearly
- Define desired end state
- List available resources
- State constraints explicitly
- Provide relevant context