meta-prompt-engineer

name	meta-prompt-engineer
description	Generate high-quality prompts using proven prompt engineering techniques. Use when users want to write a prompt, create or improve prompts, work on meta-prompts, or need to craft effective instructions for AI tasks. Do NOT use for simply asking questions, executing existing prompts, or non-prompt-related tasks.

Meta Prompt Engineer

Generate structured, effective prompts for AI systems using proven techniques from Anthropic, OpenAI, and academic research.

Workflow Routing

Intent	Workflow
Create new prompt from scratch	workflows/generate-prompt.md
Improve/optimize existing prompt	workflows/improve-prompt.md

Core References

Reference	Purpose
Techniques Catalog	All prompt engineering techniques
Templates	Ready-to-use prompt structures
Anti-Patterns	Mistakes to avoid

The 80/20 Rule

Three principles that solve 80% of prompt quality issues:

1. Goal + Constraints Upfront

   • State what "done" looks like
   • Define boundaries and limitations

2. 1-3 Examples

   • Format beats adjectives
   • Show, don't tell

3. Force Structured Output

   • JSON, bullets, tables, rubric
   • Explicit format requirements

Prompt Structure (Contract-Style)

1. ROLE       - Who the AI is (persona, expertise)
2. TASK       - What to do (specific action)
3. CONTEXT    - What you're given (inputs, background)
4. OUTPUT     - Format, constraints, requirements
5. EXAMPLES   - Show desired input→output
6. VERIFY     - How to check success

Quick Technique Reference

Technique	When to Use	Example
XML Tags	Structure complex inputs	<context>...</context>
Few-shot	Enforce format/style	1-3 input→output examples
Chain of Thought	Complex reasoning	"Think step by step"
Role/Persona	Consistent voice	"You are a senior engineer"
Prefill	Force output format	Start with { for JSON
Constraints	Prevent unwanted behavior	"Do NOT include..."

Success Criteria

Generated prompt should have:

• Clear goal statement (what success looks like)
• Explicit output format specification
• At least one example (input → output)
• Appropriate structure (XML tags or clear sections)
• Constraints/guardrails (what NOT to do)
• Context about the task domain

Output

This skill outputs:

1. Structured prompt ready for use
2. Rationale explaining technique choices (if requested)