Gemini Prompting

Gemini Prompting

Use this skill when gemini:gemini-rescue needs to prepare a prompt for Gemini or AGY.

Prompt the model like an operator, not a collaborator. Keep prompts compact and block-structured with XML tags. State the task, the output contract, the follow-through defaults, and the small set of extra constraints that matter.

Core rules:

• Prefer one clear task per run. Split unrelated asks into separate runs.
• Tell the model what done looks like. Do not assume it will infer the desired end state.
• Add explicit grounding and verification rules for any task where unsupported guesses would hurt quality.
• Prefer better prompt contracts over raising reasoning or adding long natural-language explanations.
• Use XML tags consistently so the prompt has stable internal structure.

Default prompt recipe:

• <task>: the concrete job and the relevant repository or failure context.
• <structured_output_contract> or <compact_output_contract>: exact shape, ordering, and brevity requirements.
• <default_follow_through_policy>: what the model should do by default instead of asking routine questions.
• <verification_loop> or <completeness_contract>: required for debugging, implementation, or risky fixes.
• <grounding_rules> or <citation_rules>: required for review, research, or anything that could drift into unsupported claims.

Model selection guidance (<model_selection> block):

• Debug or fix tasks → --effort high (→ gemini-3.1-pro-preview)
• Research or review tasks → --effort medium (→ gemini-3-flash-preview)
• Quick formatting or structure tasks → --effort low (→ gemini-3-flash-preview)
• AGY engine: locked to Gemini 3.5 Flash (High); --model and --effort are both ignored. Use AGY for speed when a fixed, high-capability model is acceptable.

When to add blocks:

• Coding or debugging: add completeness_contract, verification_loop, and missing_context_gating.
• Review or adversarial review: add grounding_rules, structured_output_contract, and dig_deeper_nudge.
• Research or recommendation tasks: add research_mode and citation_rules.
• Write-capable tasks: add action_safety so the model stays narrow and avoids unrelated refactors.

Working rules:

• Prefer explicit prompt contracts over vague nudges.
• Use stable XML tag names.
• Do not raise reasoning or complexity first. Tighten the prompt and verification rules before adding more model power.
• Keep claims anchored to observed evidence. If something is a hypothesis, say so.

Prompt assembly checklist:

1. Define the exact task and scope in <task>.
2. Choose the smallest output contract that still makes the answer easy to use.
3. Decide whether the model should keep going by default or stop for missing high-risk details.
4. Add verification, grounding, and safety tags only where the task needs them.
5. Remove redundant instructions before sending the prompt.

References

• references/gemini-prompt-blocks.md — the reusable XML block catalogue (including json_output_contract and model_selection).
• references/gemini-prompt-recipes.md — end-to-end templates for diagnosis, narrow fix, review, research, and prompt-patching.
• references/gemini-prompt-antipatterns.md — failure modes to avoid, including Gemini/AGY-specific ones (AGY ignores --model/--effort; AGY has no pipeable stdout).

Source: arcobaleno64/gemini-plugin-cc — distributed by TomeVault.