Most coding time goes to the unglamorous middle — the setup, the second draft, the review. The right prompt quietly takes that part off your plate.
Anchor to one reader
Lock the parts that never change and leave one slot for the variable. Now every run shares a family resemblance instead of starting from scratch.
- Save the prompt that worked so the next person reuses it
- Lower the reading level, then check what broke
- Ask for three angles, then cut to the one worth shipping
Keep a negative list
Ask for the reasoning, then the result. When the model shows its steps you can see exactly where to push back.
Reuse the recipe
Ask for the reasoning, then the result. When the model shows its steps you can see exactly where to push back.
Treat the first output as a draft, not a verdict. The prompt does the typing; you keep the judgment about what ships.