optimize-prompt

name	optimize-prompt
description	Optimize a prompt through a critique-compress pipeline with semantic equivalence verification at each stage. Use when user says "optimize this prompt", "make this prompt better and shorter", or "improve and compress". Applies think-critically to improve the prompt, then compress-prompt to reduce it, validating that behavior is preserved after each transformation.

Optimize Prompt

Prompt optimization pipeline. Given prompt P, improve via critique then compression, with semantic equivalence checks after each stage.

Pipeline

P → [Input Analysis] → [Critique] → P' → [Equiv Check 1] → [Compress] → P'' → [Equiv Check 2] → Output P''

Execute stages strictly in order — no skipping, reordering, or parallelizing. Each stage passes (pipeline continues) or fails (pipeline terminates with explanation).

---

Stage 0: Input Analysis

Examine P:

1. Does P take input? Check for placeholders ({{X}}, {input}, [USER INPUT]), references to "the user's input"/"the given text"/"the provided data", or expectation of concatenation with external content.
2. If yes: Construct plausible, concrete test input X — realistic, non-trivial (2-3+ sentences or meaningful data structure), exercising P's main logic paths. If P has branching conditions, X triggers the primary branch. If P produces structured output, X requires all output fields. If P has validation conditions, X passes validation. State X explicitly.
3. If no: P is self-contained. Set X = ∅. Equivalence checks compare outputs of P directly.

Display:

**Input Analysis**
- Takes input: [Yes/No]
- Test input X: [constructed input, or "N/A — self-contained"]

---

Stage 1: Critique

Apply think-critically methodology to P:

1. Derive 5-8 expectations from P itself — behavioral properties any revision must preserve. Frame as testable statements (e.g., "Produces JSON output", "Rejects off-topic queries").
2. Evaluate P against expectations. Per expectation: confidence (0-100%) with concise rationale referencing specific text in P.
3. Propose fixes for expectations with confidence < 95%. Each fix: exact text to add, remove, or replace.
4. Produce P' — revised prompt with all fixes applied. Complete text, not a diff.

Display:

**Stage 1: Critique**

| Expectation | Confidence | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| ... | ...% | ... |

**Overall Score: [average]%**

**Fixes Applied:**
1. [Fix with exact text changes]
...

---
> **P' (Revised Prompt):**
---
[Full text of P']
---

If all expectations >= 95%, set P' = P and note "No fixes needed."

---

Stage 2: Equivalence Check 1

Verify P and P' produce essentially the same output on X.

Procedure:

1. Simulate running P on X. Describe expected output (2-4 sentences): structure, content, tone, key features.
2. Simulate running P' on X. Describe expected output (2-4 sentences).
3. Equivalent if all hold:
   • (a) Output structure identical (sections, format, ordering)
   • (b) Factual/decisional content identical — nothing added, removed, or altered
   • (c) Differences limited to: wording improvements, added specificity, stronger constraint enforcement
   • (d) User expecting P's behavior would accept output without noticing intent change
   • If (a)-(c) hold but (d) uncertain, default YES.

If X = ∅, compare standalone outputs.

Display:

**Stage 2: Equivalence Check 1**

- P(X) expected output: [description]
- P'(X) expected output: [description]
- Equivalent: [YES/NO]
- Reasoning: [1-2 sentences]

If NO: Terminate:

**PIPELINE FAILED at Stage 2**
[Explanation of behavioral drift]
[Fixes that caused divergence]

If YES: Proceed to Stage 3.

---

Stage 3: Compress

Apply compress-prompt methodology to P' (lossless mode):

1. Target 10-30% token reduction, 100% semantic retention.
2. Every instruction, constraint, directive, tonal signal, example, and structural relationship in P' must be explicitly present in P''. Nothing left to inference.
3. Allowed: remove filler, collapse redundancy, tighten syntax, merge duplicates, normalize structure.
4. Forbidden: dropping directives, abbreviating examples beyond recognition, eliding constraints, compressing tonal/behavioral signals into vague summaries.
5. Produce P'' and a directive map (each P' directive → P'' counterpart).

Display:

**Stage 3: Compress**

---
> **P'' (Compressed Prompt):**
---
[Full text of P'']
---

**Directive Map:**
| # | Original directive (P') | Compressed counterpart (P'') |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | [directive from P'] | [text in P''] |
| ... | ... | ... |

**Stats:**
- P' tokens (approx): [n]
- P'' tokens (approx): [n]
- Compression: [%]
- Directives: [n/n mapped]

---

Stage 4: Equivalence Check 2

Verify P' and P'' produce essentially the same output on X.

Procedure: Same as Stage 2, comparing P' and P''.

Display:

**Stage 4: Equivalence Check 2**

- P'(X) expected output: [description]
- P''(X) expected output: [description]
- Equivalent: [YES/NO]
- Reasoning: [1-2 sentences]

If NO: Terminate:

**PIPELINE FAILED at Stage 4**
[What compression lost]
[Elements in P' with no counterpart in P'']

If YES: Proceed to output.

---

Final Output

**PIPELINE SUCCEEDED**

Your optimized prompt (P''):

---
> **BEGIN OPTIMIZED PROMPT**
---
[Full text of P'']
---
> **END OPTIMIZED PROMPT**
---

**Summary:**
- Critique: [n] fixes applied, score [x]% → [y]%
- Compression: [z]% reduction
- Both equivalence checks passed

---

Edge Cases

• P fewer than 20 tokens: note optimization may yield minimal improvement, proceed.
• P already optimal (all expectations >= 95%, compression < 10%): state "Prompt is already well-optimized", return P unchanged.
• Adversarial or self-referential P: evaluate literally, note observation.
• Compression < 10% reduction without dropping directives: skip compression, set P'' = P', note "Compression skipped — prompt already dense."
• P' more than 50% longer than P: flag "Significant expansion", verify in Stage 2 that expansion only adds guardrails/specificity.
• P contains code blocks: preserve verbatim during critique and compression unless fix explicitly targets code content.

FIRST-TOKEN CONSTRAINT: Response must begin with "## Optimize Prompt". No greetings, preambles, commentary, or blank lines before it. Overrides default conversational behavior.

---

Input

If literal '{{P}}' appears below without content, inform user no prompt was provided.

Prompt to optimize:

{{P}}