Editorial starter example. Original guide created for the Devex launch; not research, a user testimonial, or a report of community activity.

Working with AI becomes more useful when the next step and its verification are clear. This workflow is a starting point to adapt, not a promise that every task will take less time.

1. Describe the outcome

Replace “improve this screen” with an action and result: “When a user filters the list, keep their selection after they return from an item.” Add what should stay the same. A clear boundary makes it easier to spot changes outside the request.

2. Provide focused, relevant context

Include the user journey, relevant files, an example, and constraints. Ask the tool to explain where it expects to make the change and what information is missing. If it points to an unused component, correct the map before moving on.

3. Ask for a verifiable change

Prefer a step with a clear outcome. Splitting work helps when each piece can be checked; an artificial split that leaves a broken intermediate state may not help. Avoid adding a broad rewrite just because the file is already open.

4. Verify against the original request

Run the action that started the task. Check a behavior that must be preserved too. Read the change and confirm that tests distinguish correct behavior from a failure. If the test environment differs from the real environment, explain the consequence.

5. Close the loop

Describe what changed, what was checked, what remains unchecked, and whether the change is active. Save useful decisions in the right documentation. When a person must decide, provide a concrete result they can inspect and explain what their decision will change.

A prompt to adapt

The goal is [observable behavior].
Relevant context: [path, files, and example].
Preserve [behavior or interface].
Start by inspecting the existing path; identify uncertainty.
Make a focused change and verify it using [scenario].
Report the result, checks, and limitations.

Try a small task: At the end, compare the result with the first sentence. If they no longer match, find the point where the scope changed.