Agentient 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)