Skip to main content

Writing effective prompts

Get better results by writing clear, detailed prompts.

The basics​

Be specific​

Less effective:

Make a todo app

More effective:

Build a todo app with:
- Add tasks with a text input
- Mark tasks complete with checkboxes
- Delete tasks with a trash button
- Filter by All, Active, Completed
- Count showing remaining tasks

Include UI details​

Create a dashboard with:
- Sidebar navigation on the left (dark gray background)
- Main content area with white background
- Cards showing metrics (rounded corners, subtle shadow)
- Header with logo and user avatar dropdown

Specify behavior​

Build a contact form where:
- All fields are required
- Email validates correct format
- Phone number accepts only digits
- Shows success message after submit
- Clears form after successful submission

Prompt patterns​

Feature list​

Structure complex apps as a list:

Build a project management app with these features:

1. Projects
   - Create/edit/delete projects
   - Add team members
   - Set deadlines

2. Tasks
   - Create tasks within projects
   - Assign to team members
   - Set priority (low/medium/high)
   - Due dates with reminders

3. Dashboard
   - Overview of all projects
   - Tasks due this week
   - Team activity feed

Reference existing apps​

Build a note-taking app similar to Notion:
- Sidebar with page tree
- Block-based editor
- Support for headings, lists, code blocks
- Drag and drop to reorder blocks

Technical requirements​

When you have specific needs:

Create a REST API using:
- FastAPI framework
- PostgreSQL database
- JWT authentication
- OpenAPI documentation
- Rate limiting (100 requests/minute)

What to include​

Always helpful​

  • Feature list
  • UI preferences (colors, layout, style)
  • User flows (what happens when...)
  • Data relationships
  • Platform (web, mobile, or both)

Sometimes needed​

  • Specific libraries to use
  • Third-party integrations
  • Performance requirements
  • Accessibility needs

Usually unnecessary​

  • Implementation details (let AI decide)
  • File structure (follows conventions)
  • Variable names
  • Minor styling details

Iteration prompts​

Adding features​

Add user authentication with:
- Email/password signup
- Login with remember me option
- Password reset via email

Modifying behavior​

Change the task list to:
- Show tasks grouped by due date
- Highlight overdue tasks in red
- Add sorting by priority

Fixing issues​

The save button doesn't work.
It should save the form data and show a success message.

Styling changes​

Update the color scheme:
- Primary: #6366f1 (indigo)
- Background: #f8fafc (light gray)
- Text: #1e293b (dark slate)

Common mistakes​

Too vague​

❌ Make it look better

✓ Update the design: add more whitespace between sections, use rounded corners on cards, make the font size larger

Too broad​

❌ Build a complete e-commerce platform

✓ Start with: Build a product catalog page with search and filters Then iterate: Add shopping cart functionality

Conflicting requirements​

❌ Make it minimal but also feature-rich with lots of options

✓ Design a minimal interface. Show advanced options in a collapsible section

Tips for better results​

  1. Start simple - Begin with core features, add complexity later
  2. One thing at a time - Focused prompts get better results
  3. Review and iterate - Build on what's generated
  4. Use the editor - Fine-tune details manually
  5. Save good prompts - Reuse patterns that work