gabrielmoreira Template Design
A prompt template is a reusable prompt structure with variable slots that get filled at runtime. Templates create consistency across similar tasks and make prompt management scalable.
Template Anatomy
A template has:
- Fixed text: The parts that stay the same every time (instructions, format, role)
- Variables: Slots that get filled with specific content (user input, retrieved data, configuration)
- Conditional sections: Parts that appear or disappear based on context
- Default values: What fills a variable if no specific value is provided
Designing Variables
Each variable should be:
- Named clearly:
{user_query}not{input1} - Typed: Is it free text, a selection from options, a number, a boolean?
- Bounded: What are valid values? What's the maximum length?
- Documented: What is this variable for? Where does its value come from?
- Defaulted: What happens if the value is missing?
Template Patterns
- Task template: A template for a specific type of task. Variables capture the task-specific details while instructions remain constant.
- Persona template: A template where the persona is variable but the task structure is fixed. Useful for multi-persona products.
- Format template: A template where the output format is variable but the analysis approach is fixed.
- Escalation template: A base template with additional sections that activate at higher complexity levels.
Template Composition
Complex prompts can be built from smaller templates:
- Base template: Core instructions that apply to everything
- Task overlay: Task-specific instructions layered on top
- Context injection: Retrieved information inserted at a specific point
- User preferences: Personal settings that modify behavior
Template Quality Criteria
- Consistency: The template produces reliably similar outputs for similar inputs
- Flexibility: The variables allow enough variation for diverse use cases
- Clarity: The template is easy to read, maintain, and modify
- Testability: You can verify the template works with a standard set of test inputs
- Maintainability: Changes to one part don't break other parts
Design Artefacts
- Template library with documentation
- Variable specifications per template
- Test input sets for each template
- Template versioning and change log
- Composition rules for combining templates