GGPrompts Prompt Craft - Claude 4 Best Practices
Craft effective prompts for Claude workers using proven patterns.
Core Principles
1. Be Explicit
Claude 4.x follows instructions precisely. Use action verbs.
| Less Effective | More Effective |
|---|---|
| "Can you suggest improvements?" | "Update the function to improve performance." |
| "Look at this code" | "Find and fix the null check bug" |
| "Help with testing" | "Write unit tests for the auth module" |
2. Add Context/Motivation
Explain WHY, not just WHAT. Claude generalizes from explanations.
| Less Effective | More Effective |
|---|---|
| "NEVER use ellipses" | "Never use ellipses since the TTS engine won't pronounce them correctly." |
| "Always add error handling" | "Add error handling so users see helpful messages instead of stack traces." |
3. Natural Skill Triggers
Use natural language, avoid aggressive markers.
| Avoid | Use |
|---|---|
| "CRITICAL: You MUST use this tool when..." | "Use the X skill for Y." |
| "ALWAYS: This is REQUIRED" | "Use this approach when..." |
| "IMPORTANT!!!: Never forget to..." | "Remember to..." |
4. Positive Framing
Tell Claude what TO do, not just what to avoid.
| Less Effective | More Effective |
|---|---|
| "Don't write long functions" | "Keep functions under 20 lines" |
| "Avoid complex logic" | "Use simple, readable patterns" |
Prompt Structure
## Context
[1-2 sentences: Why this work matters, what problem it solves]
## Task
[Clear, explicit action instruction using action verbs]
## Approach
[Optional: Skill hints, patterns to follow, key considerations]
Use the [skill] skill for [specific purpose].
## Key Files
[3-5 most relevant files to start with]
- path/to/main/file.ts
- path/to/related/file.ts
## When Done
[How to complete: close issue, what to include in summary]
Close issue: bd close ISSUE-ID --reason "summary"
Skill Matching
Match skills based on content:
| Content Signal | Suggested Skill |
|---|---|
.tsx, .jsx, React |
frontend-development |
| terminal, xterm, resize | xterm-js |
| auth, login, session | better-auth |
| database, SQL, query | databases |
| API, REST, endpoint | backend-development |
| CSS, styling, theme | ui-styling |
| docs, markdown | docs-seeker |
Subagent Hints
Claude 4.5 naturally delegates. Add hints when beneficial:
Use subagents in parallel to scaffold Dashboard, Settings, and Profile pages.
Use an Explore agent to find the relevant authentication files first.
Parallelization Hints
For tasks with independent subtasks:
These components can be developed in parallel:
- HeaderComponent
- FooterComponent
- SidebarComponent
Complexity Guidelines
| Prompt Length | When to Use |
|---|---|
| Short (3-5 lines) | Simple bug fixes, single-file changes |
| Medium (10-15 lines) | Feature work, multi-file changes |
| Long (20+ lines) | Complex features, architectural changes |
Rule: If you need more than 20 lines, the issue might need breaking down.
Anti-Patterns
Avoid these common mistakes:
- Overloading: Too many skills, too many files, too much context
- Vague tasks: "Make it better" without specific criteria
- All caps: CRITICAL, IMPORTANT, MUST - creates anxiety, not clarity
- Negative framing: Lists of don'ts without corresponding dos
- No completion criteria: Worker doesn't know when they're done