Crafting Effective Prompts for Spec-to-Code

Key Points:

• Structuring your prompts logically: Role/Persona, Context (project, libraries, relevant code), Instruction (the task), Examples (few-shot prompting), Format (desired output structure).
• Providing sufficient and relevant context without overwhelming the model.
• Translating abstract spec requirements into concrete coding tasks and constraints.
• Using negative constraints effectively (“Do not use library X”, “Avoid pattern Y”).
• Techniques for iterative prompting and refining output through conversation.
• Handling ambiguity in specifications through clarifying prompts.
• Decomposing specs into promptable units
• Using “show, don’t tell” in prompts
• Prompt chaining for large features

Assets:

• Prompt Engineering Template: General Structure for Spec-to-Code Prompts (Reusable Markdown template).
• Examples: Side-by-side comparison of ineffective vs. effective prompts for a given spec snippet.
• Callout (Inline Tip): “Tip: Start with a clear, concise instruction and add context/constraints iteratively if the initial output is insufficient.”
• Callout (Inline Misconception): “Common Misconception: More detail is always better. Focus on relevant detail and clear structure.”
• 📄 Prompt Skeleton Template
• ⚡ Callout: Common Mistakes (e.g., vague verbs)