Once you've found a prompt, here's how to use it effectively with your AI coding assistant.
Basic usage
The simplest way to use a prompt:
- Click the Copy button on any prompt
- Open your AI assistant (Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor, etc.)
- Paste the prompt
- Add any context specific to your situation
- Send the message
Filling in variables
Many prompts contain variables marked with brackets like [language] or [file_path]. Replace these with your specific values before sending.
For example, if a prompt says:
Review this [language] code for potential bugs:
You would change it to:
Review this TypeScript code for potential bugs:
Adding context
AI assistants work best with context. After the prompt, consider adding:
- The relevant code or file contents
- Error messages you're seeing
- What you've already tried
- Constraints or requirements
- Your tech stack or framework
Using as system prompts
Some prompts work best as system prompts or custom instructions. These set the context for an entire conversation rather than a single message. To use a prompt this way:
- Claude - Use Projects or paste at the start of a conversation
- ChatGPT - Add to Custom Instructions in settings
- Cursor - Add to your Cursor rules file
Combining prompts
You can combine multiple prompts for complex tasks. For example:
- Use a code review prompt first
- Then follow up with a refactoring prompt
- Finally use a documentation prompt
The basket feature makes it easy to collect and export multiple prompts together.
Tips for best results
- Be specific - Add details about your situation even if the prompt is general
- Iterate - If the first response isn't quite right, refine your request
- Provide examples - Show the AI what you're looking for when possible
- Check the output - Always review AI-generated code before using it
Model-specific notes
Claude
Claude works well with detailed, structured prompts. It respects formatting and follows multi-step instructions reliably.
ChatGPT / GPT-4
GPT-4 handles most prompts well. For complex prompts, you may want to break them into smaller steps.
Cursor
When using prompts in Cursor, you can reference specific files using the @ symbol. Many prompts work well as Cursor rules for consistent behavior.