optimize-prompt

Optimize Prompt

Transform prompts into production-ready versions using prompt engineering best practices.

When to Use

Use this skill when you need to:

• Improve an existing prompt's effectiveness
• Adapt a prompt for Claude's strengths
• Add structure and clarity to vague prompts
• Debug prompts that aren't working as expected

Workflow

Invoke the improve-prompt skill for analysis and optimization.

Input

$ARGUMENTS

Analysis Framework

Step 1: Analyze Current Prompt

Evaluate for:

Dimension	Check
Clarity	Is the task unambiguous?
Completeness	Is all necessary context provided?
Structure	Is it well-organized?
Constraints	Are boundaries defined?
Examples	Are few-shot examples provided if needed?
Output format	Is expected output specified?

Step 2: Identify Issues

Common problems to address:

• Vague instructions → Make specific
• Missing context → Add relevant background
• No output format → Specify structure
• No examples → Add few-shot demonstrations
• No constraints → Add guardrails
• Too long → Consolidate and prioritize

Step 3: Apply Claude-Specific Best Practices

Structure:

• Use XML tags for clear sections (<context>, <task>, <output>)
• Put important instructions at start AND end (primacy/recency effect)
• Use numbered steps for sequences

Framing:

• Use positive framing ("do X" not "don't do Y")
• Be specific about the persona/role if helpful
• Request step-by-step reasoning for complex tasks

Output Control:

• Specify exact output format with examples
• Use structured formats (JSON, XML, Markdown) for parsing
• Include edge case handling instructions

Step 4: Generate Optimized Prompt

Produce the improved version with:

• Clear structure using XML tags
• Explicit instructions
• Defined output format
• Examples if beneficial

Output Format

## Prompt Analysis

**Original prompt issues:**
1. [Issue 1 with specific example]
2. [Issue 2 with specific example]

**Improvements applied:**
1. [Improvement 1 and rationale]
2. [Improvement 2 and rationale]

---

## Optimized Prompt

[The improved prompt, ready to copy]

---

## Usage Notes

- **Best for**: [model/use case recommendations]
- **Expected output**: [description of what the prompt produces]
- **Variations**: [suggested modifications for different contexts]

Quality Gates

• All ambiguities in original prompt resolved
• Output format explicitly specified
• Appropriate length (not bloated with unnecessary content)
• Edge cases considered and handled
• Claude-specific techniques applied where beneficial
• Prompt is self-contained (doesn't require external context)