To get consistent, high-quality results from AI coding assistants, define reusable instructions in dedicated files (e.g., `prd.md`) within your repository. This "agent briefing" file can be referenced in prompts, ensuring all generated assets adhere to a predefined structure and style.
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The all-caps `clod` file, created via the `init` command, stores project structure and user-defined rules. Unlike temporary in-chat instructions that get lost or degraded as the conversation continues, this file is referenced in every session, ensuring consistent behavior and enforcing project-wide guardrails.
Effective prompt engineering for AI agents isn't an unstructured art. A robust prompt clearly defines the agent's persona ('Role'), gives specific, bracketed commands for external inputs ('Instructions'), and sets boundaries on behavior ('Guardrails'). This structure signals advanced AI literacy to interviewers and collaborators.
Use an AI assistant like Claude Code to create a persistent corporate memory. Instruct it to save valuable artifacts like customer quotes, analyses, and complex SQL queries into a dedicated Git repository. This makes critical, unstructured information easily searchable and reusable for future AI-driven tasks.
LLMs often get stuck or pursue incorrect paths on complex tasks. "Plan mode" forces Claude Code to present its step-by-step checklist for your approval before it starts editing files. This allows you to correct its logic and assumptions upfront, ensuring the final output aligns with your intent and saving time.
Instead of using siloed note-taking apps, structure all your knowledge—code, writing, proposals, notes—into a single GitHub monorepo. This creates a unified, context-rich environment that any AI coding assistant can access. This approach avoids vendor lock-in and provides the AI with a comprehensive "second brain" to work from.
Moving PRDs and other product artifacts from Confluence or Notion directly into the codebase's repository gives AI coding assistants persistent, local context. This adjacency means the AI doesn't need external tool access (like an MCP) to understand the 'why' behind the code, leading to better suggestions and iterations.
Instead of managing prompts in a separate library, save them as custom commands directly within your Claude Code project folder. This lets you trigger complex, multi-file prompts with a simple command (e.g., `/meeting_notes`), embedding powerful, recurring workflows directly into your development environment.
Even for a simple personal project, starting with a Product Requirements Document (PRD) dramatically improves the output from AI code generation tools. Taking a few minutes to outline goals and features provides the necessary context for the AI to produce more accurate and relevant code, saving time on rework.
Codex lacks formal custom commands. You can achieve the same result by storing detailed prompts and templates in local files (e.g., meeting summaries, PRD structures). Reference these files with the '@' symbol in your prompts to apply consistent instructions and formatting to your tasks.
When building multi-agent systems, tailor the output format to the recipient. While Markdown is best for human readability, agents communicating with each other should use JSON. LLMs can parse structured JSON data more reliably and efficiently, reducing errors in complex, automated workflows.
