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Getting Started with Prompting

A practical guide to writing prompts that get better results. Learn the fundamentals of prompt engineering.

Ebenezer Don

Prompting is thinking. The better you structure your thinking, the better your results. This guide walks you through the fundamentals.

What Makes a Good Prompt

A good prompt does three things:

  1. Provides context: The model needs to know what you’re working on
  2. Specifies the format: Tell it how you want the output structured
  3. Sets constraints: What to include, what to avoid

Start Simple

Don’t overcomplicate things at first. A simple, clear prompt often beats a long, elaborate one.

Write a function that validates an email address. Use JavaScript. Include error handling.

That’s enough to get started. As you iterate, you can add more detail.

Iterate

The first response is rarely the best. Refine your prompt based on what you get back. This is the core skill of prompt engineering.

For the full treatment of prompting as structured thinking, check out Get Insanely Good at AI.

Go deeper with the book

This guide covers the essentials. Get Insanely Good at AI goes further, with practical frameworks, real workflows, and the understanding that makes everything click.

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