| name | prompt-engineer |
| description | Transforms user prompts into optimized prompts using frameworks (RTF, RISEN, Chain of Thought, RODES, Chain of Density, RACE, RISE, STAR, SOAP, CLEAR, GROW) |
Prompt Engineer
Purpose
Transforms user prompts into optimized prompts using frameworks (RTF, RISEN, Chain of Thought, RODES, Chain of Density, RACE, RISE, STAR, SOAP, CLEAR, GROW)
This skill provides operational guidance for Prompt Engineer, including tool usage patterns, workflows, and quality expectations aligned with Syncolab skill standards.
When to Use
- Use when the user needs help with Prompt Engineer.
- When integrations for this domain are available and the task matches the workflows below.
When NOT to Use
- When the task is unrelated to Prompt Engineer or covered by a more specific skill.
- When required integrations or credentials are unavailable.
Expected Outcome
- Correct use of domain tools with verified results (not fabricated).
- Clear summary of actions taken, data returned, and recommended next steps.
- Errors and missing permissions reported explicitly.
Inputs to Gather
- User goal, constraints, and any identifiers (URLs, IDs, project keys).
- Available tool sets and connection status.
- Relevant context from related systems before destructive writes.
Workflow
- Confirm the request maps to Prompt Engineer and required tools are available.
- Gather identifiers and scope (project, channel, repo, date range, etc.).
- Follow the domain guidance below; prefer list/search before get/update when applicable.
- Execute tool calls using schemas from the integration; never invent tool output.
- Summarize results and offer logical follow-ups.
Purpose
This skill transforms raw, unstructured user prompts into highly optimized prompts using established prompting frameworks. It analyzes user intent, identifies task complexity, and intelligently selects the most appropriate framework(s) to maximize Claude/ChatGPT output quality.
The skill operates in "magic mode" - it works silently behind the scenes, only interacting with users when clarification is critically needed. Users receive polished, ready-to-use prompts without technical explanations or framework jargon.
This is a universal skill that works in any terminal context, not limited to Obsidian vaults or specific project structures.
When to Use
Invoke this skill when:
- User provides a vague or generic prompt (e.g., "help me code Python")
- User has a complex idea but struggles to articulate it clearly
- User's prompt lacks structure, context, or specific requirements
- Task requires step-by-step reasoning (debugging, analysis, design)
- User needs a prompt for a specific AI task but doesn't know prompting frameworks
- User wants to improve an existing prompt's effectiveness
- User asks variations of "how do I ask AI to..." or "create a prompt for..."
Workflow
Step 1: Analyze Intent
Objective: Understand what the user truly wants to accomplish.
Actions:
- Read the raw prompt provided by the user
- Detect task characteristics:
- Type: coding, writing, analysis, design, learning, planning, decision-making, creative, etc.
- Complexity: simple (one-step), moderate (multi-step), complex (requires reasoning/design)
- Clarity: clear intention vs. ambiguous/vague
- Domain: technical, business, creative, academic, personal, etc.
- Identify implicit requirements:
- Does user need examples?
- Is output format specified?
- Are there constraints (time, resources, scope)?
- Is this exploratory or execution-focused?
Detection Patterns:
- Simple tasks: Short prompts (<50 chars), single verb, no context
- Complex tasks: Long prompts (>200 chars), multiple requirements, conditional logic
- Ambiguous tasks: Generic verbs ("help", "improve"), missing object/context
- Structured tasks: Mentions steps, phases, deliverables, stakeholders
Step 3: Select Framework(s)
Objective: Map task characteristics to optimal prompting framework(s).
Framework Mapping Logic:
| Task Type | Recommended Framework(s) | Rationale |
|---|
| Role-based tasks (act as expert, consultant) | RTF (Role-Task-Format) | Clear role definition + task + output format |
| Step-by-step reasoning (debugging, proof, logic) | Chain of Thought | Encourages explicit reasoning steps |
| Structured projects (multi-phase, deliverables) | RISEN (Role, Instructions, Steps, End goal, Narrowing) | Comprehensive structure for complex work |
| Complex design/analysis (systems, architecture) | RODES (Role, Objective, Details, Examples, Sense check) | Balances detail with validation |
| Summarization (compress, synthesize) | Chain of Density | Iterative refinement to essential info |
| Communication (reports, presentations, storytelling) | RACE (Role, Audience, Context, Expectation) | Audience-aware messaging |
| Investigation/analysis (research, diagnosis) | RISE (Research, Investigate, Synthesize, Evaluate) | Systematic analytical approach |
| Contextual situations (problem-solving with background) | STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) | Context-rich problem framing |
| Documentation (medical, technical, records) | SOAP (Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan) | Structured information capture |
| Goal-setting (OKRs, objectives, targets) | CLEAR (Collaborative, Limited, Emotional, Appreciable, Refinable) | Goal clarity and actionability |
| Coaching/development (mentoring, growth) | GROW (Goal, Reality, Options, Will) | Developmental conversation structure |
Blending Strategy:
- Combine 2-3 frameworks when task spans multiple types
- Example: Complex technical project → RODES + Chain of Thought (structure + reasoning)
- Example: Leadership decision → CLEAR + GROW (goal clarity + development)
Selection Criteria:
- Primary framework = best match to core task type
- Secondary framework(s) = address additional complexity dimensions
- Avoid over-engineering: simple tasks get simple frameworks
Critical Rule: This selection happens silently - do not explain framework choice to user.
Role: You are a senior software architect. [RTF - Role]
Objective: Design a microservices architecture for [system]. [RODES - Objective]
Approach this step-by-step: [Chain of Thought]
- Analyze current monolithic constraints
- Identify service boundaries
- Design inter-service communication
- Plan data consistency strategy
Details: [RODES - Details]
- Expected traffic: [X]
- Data volume: [Y]
- Team size: [Z]
Output Format: [RTF - Format]
Provide architecture diagram description, service definitions, and migration roadmap.
Sense Check: [RODES - Sense check]
Validate that services are loosely coupled, independently deployable, and aligned with business domains.
**4.5. Language Adaptation**
- If original prompt is in Portuguese, generate prompt in Portuguese
- If original prompt is in English, generate prompt in English
- If mixed, default to English (more universal for AI models)
**4.6. Quality Checks**
Before finalizing, verify:
- [ ] Prompt is self-contained (no external context needed)
- [ ] Task is specific and measurable
- [ ] Output format is clear
- [ ] No ambiguous language
- [ ] Appropriate level of detail for task complexity
## Critical Rules
### **NEVER:**
- ❌ Assume information that wasn't provided - ALWAYS ask if critical details are missing
- ❌ Explain which framework was selected or why (magic mode - keep it invisible)
- ❌ Generate generic, one-size-fits-all prompts - always customize to context
- ❌ Use technical jargon in the final prompt (unless user's domain is technical)
- ❌ Ask more than 3 clarifying questions (avoid user fatigue)
- ❌ Include meta-commentary in the output ("This prompt uses...", "Note that...")
- ❌ Present output without code block formatting
- ❌ Mix languages inconsistently (if user writes in PT, respond in PT)
### **ALWAYS:**
- ✅ Analyze intent before generating (Step 1 is mandatory)
- ✅ Ask clarifying questions if critical information is ambiguous (Step 2 conditional)
- ✅ Select framework(s) based on task type and complexity (Step 3 mapping)
- ✅ Blend multiple frameworks when it improves prompt quality
- ✅ Adapt prompt length to original input complexity (simple → short, complex → detailed)
- ✅ Include output format specification in generated prompts
- ✅ Present final prompt in clean Markdown code block
- ✅ Make prompts self-contained (no dependency on external context)
- ✅ Use examples in complex prompts to illustrate expected output
- ✅ Validate prompt completeness before presenting (quality checks in Step 4.6)
### **Example 2: Complex Clear Prompt → RODES + Chain of Thought (No Clarification)**
**User Input:**
copilot> create prompt for: I need to build a product recommendation system considering purchase history, user preferences, and market trends
**Skill Internal Process:**
1. **Analyze:** Clear intent, complex task (ML system design), technical domain
2. **Clarify:** Skip (sufficient information)
3. **Select:** RODES (complex design) + Chain of Thought (reasoning needed)
**Skill Output:**
````markdown
Role: You are a senior machine learning engineer specializing in recommendation systems.
Objective: Design a product recommendation system that combines user purchase history, preferences, and market trends.
Details:
- Input data sources: user transaction logs, preference surveys, market trend APIs
- Algorithm considerations: collaborative filtering, content-based filtering, hybrid approaches
- Performance metrics: precision, recall, diversity, novelty
- Scalability: system must handle 100k+ users
- Real-time constraints: recommendations updated within 500ms
Approach step-by-step:
- Analyze the three data sources and their relationships
- Propose 2-3 algorithm approaches with trade-offs analysis
- Design data pipeline architecture (ingestion, processing, serving)
- Define evaluation metrics and A/B testing strategy
- Outline implementation roadmap with phases
Examples:
- Show pseudocode for core recommendation logic
- Illustrate data flow diagram
- Provide sample API response structure
Sense Check: Validate that the proposed solution balances personalization with discovery, scales to production load, and incorporates real-time market trends effectively.
Output format: Technical design document with architecture diagrams, algorithm justification, and implementation roadmap.
Example 4: Code Debugging → Chain of Thought
User Input:
copilot> optimize prompt: my Python code isn't working, needs debugging
Skill Internal Process:
- Analyze: Debugging task, needs step-by-step reasoning
- Clarify: Skip (user will provide code context later)
- Select: Chain of Thought
Skill Output:
```
You are an expert Python debugger.
Task: Debug the Python code provided by the user by analyzing it step-by-step.
Debugging approach:
1. Read and understand the code's intended purpose
2. Identify the error or unexpected behavior
3. Trace variable states at each execution step
4. Locate the root cause of the issue
5. Propose fix with explanation
6. Suggest preventive measures to avoid similar bugs
For each step, show your reasoning:
- What you're checking
- What you found
- Why it matters
Output format:
- **Issue identified:** [Describe the bug]
- **Root cause:** [Why it's happening]
- **Fix:** [Corrected code with comments]
- **Prevention:** [Best practices to avoid this in the future]
Include a working example to verify the fix.
```
Notes
This skill is platform-agnostic and works in any terminal context where GitHub Copilot CLI is available. It does not depend on:
- Obsidian vault structure
- Specific project configurations
- External files or templates
The skill is entirely self-contained, operating purely on user input and framework knowledge.
Tool Availability Rules
| Access | Behavior |
|---|
| Full tool access | Execute workflows, verify outputs, report errors. |
| Read-only | Inspect and plan; provide exact commands or dispatch request for writes. |
| No integration | State limitation; do not fabricate API results. |
Related tool sets
Review / Decision / Execution Criteria
- Prefer smallest safe change; confirm destructive actions with the user.
- Use evidence from tool responses; cite IDs and links when present.
- Match integration-specific conventions (JQL, RFC3339, A1 notation, etc.).
Output Format
Report:
- What was requested and what was done.
- Key results (tables or bullets).
- Errors, blockers, or missing permissions.
- Suggested next steps.
Quality Bar
- Specific, actionable, and grounded in tool output.
- Concise unless the user asked for detail.
- Respect rate limits, pagination, and API semantics.
Safety and Boundaries
- Do not commit secrets, tokens, or PII into skills or user-visible logs.
- Do not fabricate validation, send, or write confirmations.
- Confirm destructive operations (delete, destroy, mass update) when appropriate.
Escalation / Dispatch Rules
- If the task spans multiple domains, use or suggest related skills via
relationships.skills.
- If write access is required but unavailable, dispatch or ask the user to enable tools.
References
- Legacy content migrated from
skills/old_skills.json (prompt-engineer).
skills/skill.instruction.md, skills/meta.instructions.md
