All prompts

Metaprompting

Coding metaprompt templates

Fill-in templates for features, tests, debugging, APIs, and architecture.

Format
Markdown
Length
1622 words
Read
~7 min

Source

Markdown
Download
# Coding Metaprompt Templates for Claude Code

## Code Generation Templates

### Full Feature Implementation Template

```text
Create a [feature name] for [project type] that:

Context:
- Language: [e.g., TypeScript, Python, Rust]
- Framework: [e.g., React, Django, Actix]
- Project structure: [brief description or tree]
- Existing patterns: [e.g., MVC, Repository, Factory]

Requirements:
- Must support: [core functionality list]
- Should handle: [edge cases]
- Performance: [specific metrics if applicable]
- Security: [authentication, validation needs]

Technical Specifications:
- Input: [data format, sources]
- Output: [expected results, format]
- Error handling: [how to handle failures]
- Logging: [what should be logged]

Code Style:
- Naming convention: [e.g., camelCase, snake_case]
- Documentation: [docstring format, comment style]
- Test coverage: [unit, integration requirements]

Deliverables:
1. Main implementation
2. Unit tests
3. Integration examples
4. Documentation
```

### API Endpoint Template

```text
Implement a REST API endpoint for [resource/action]:

Endpoint Details:
- Method: [GET/POST/PUT/DELETE]
- Path: [/api/v1/resource]
- Authentication: [Bearer token, API key, etc.]

Request:
- Headers: [required headers]
- Body schema: [JSON structure]
- Query parameters: [optional filters]
- Validation rules: [constraints]

Response:
- Success (200/201): [response structure]
- Client errors (4xx): [error format]
- Server errors (5xx): [error handling]

Business Logic:
- Main operation: [what it does]
- Side effects: [emails, webhooks, cache updates]
- Transaction boundaries: [atomicity requirements]

Performance Requirements:
- Response time: [target milliseconds]
- Concurrent requests: [expected load]
- Caching strategy: [what to cache, TTL]

Include:
- Input validation
- Error handling
- Logging
- Rate limiting check
- Unit tests
```

### Algorithm Implementation Template

```text
Implement [algorithm name] to solve [problem description]:

Problem Specification:
- Input: [data structure, constraints, size]
- Output: [expected result format]
- Constraints: [time/space complexity requirements]

Examples:
- Input: [example 1]
  Output: [result 1]
- Input: [example 2]
  Output: [result 2]
- Edge case: [example 3]
  Output: [result 3]

Requirements:
- Time complexity: [O(n), O(n log n), etc.]
- Space complexity: [O(1), O(n), etc.]
- Must handle: [special cases]
- Language features: [specific to use/avoid]

Implementation Details:
- Use iterative/recursive approach: [preference]
- Data structures allowed: [arrays, maps, sets]
- Libraries allowed: [standard library only?]
- Optimization focus: [readability vs performance]

Testing:
- Include comprehensive test cases
- Cover edge cases
- Performance benchmarks if relevant
```

### Component/Module Template

```text
Create a [component/module name] that:

Purpose: [what it does and why]

Interface:
- Public methods: [list with signatures]
- Properties: [getters/setters]
- Events: [emitted/listened]
- Dependencies: [required services/modules]

Behavior:
- Initialization: [setup requirements]
- Main functionality: [core operations]
- Cleanup: [disposal, unsubscribe]
- Error states: [how to handle/recover]

Integration:
- How it fits: [in the larger system]
- Communication: [with other components]
- Data flow: [input sources, output destinations]

Quality Requirements:
- Testability: [dependency injection, mocking]
- Reusability: [configuration options]
- Performance: [lazy loading, memoization]
- Accessibility: [if UI component]

Example Usage:
[Code snippet showing typical usage]
```

## Debugging Templates

### Bug Investigation Template

```text
Debug the following issue:

Problem Description:
- What's broken: [specific functionality]
- When it occurs: [conditions, frequency]
- Impact: [who's affected, severity]

Expected Behavior:
[Describe what should happen]

Actual Behavior:
[Describe what actually happens]

Error Information:
- Error message: [full text]
- Stack trace: [relevant portion]
- Logs: [related log entries]

Code Context:
[Paste relevant code sections]

Environment:
- OS: [Windows/Mac/Linux version]
- Runtime: [Node/Python/JVM version]
- Dependencies: [relevant package versions]
- Configuration: [relevant settings]

What I've Tried:
1. [First attempt and result]
2. [Second attempt and result]

Suspected Causes:
- [Theory 1]
- [Theory 2]

Please:
1. Identify root cause
2. Explain why it's happening
3. Provide fix with explanation
4. Suggest prevention strategies
```

### Performance Issue Template

```text
Investigate performance degradation:

Performance Problem:
- Operation: [what's slow]
- Current performance: [metrics]
- Expected performance: [target metrics]
- When it started: [if known]

Metrics:
- Response time: [average, p95, p99]
- Memory usage: [before, during, after]
- CPU usage: [percentage, cores]
- I/O operations: [disk, network]

Code Section:
[Paste code suspected of causing issue]

Data Characteristics:
- Typical input size: [records, MB]
- Data structure: [arrays, trees, graphs]
- Access patterns: [sequential, random]

Environment:
- Hardware: [CPU, RAM, disk]
- Load: [concurrent users/requests]
- Database: [if applicable]

Profiling Results:
[If available, paste profiler output]

Requirements:
1. Identify bottlenecks
2. Explain performance impact
3. Provide optimized solution
4. Maintain functionality
5. Consider trade-offs
```

### Integration Error Template

```text
Debug integration failure between [System A] and [System B]:

Integration Context:
- System A: [description, version]
- System B: [description, version]
- Communication: [REST, GraphQL, gRPC, etc.]
- Data format: [JSON, XML, Protocol Buffers]

Error Symptoms:
- Error message: [from logs]
- HTTP status: [if applicable]
- Timing: [when it fails]
- Frequency: [always, intermittent]

Request Details:
- Endpoint: [URL/method]
- Headers: [relevant headers]
- Body: [request payload]

Response Details:
- Status code: [actual vs expected]
- Headers: [response headers]
- Body: [response or error message]

What Works:
- [Successful similar requests]
- [Conditions when it works]

What Fails:
- [Specific failure scenarios]
- [Common patterns in failures]

Please Investigate:
1. Protocol/format mismatches
2. Authentication/authorization issues
3. Data validation problems
4. Timeout/retry logic
5. Version compatibility
```

## Refactoring Templates

### Code Quality Refactoring Template

```text
Refactor the following code for improved [quality aspect]:

Current Code:
[Paste existing implementation]

Refactoring Goals:
- Primary: [e.g., reduce complexity, improve readability]
- Secondary: [e.g., better testability, performance]

Specific Issues to Address:
1. [e.g., Long methods - split into smaller functions]
2. [e.g., Duplicate code - extract common functionality]
3. [e.g., Poor naming - use descriptive names]
4. [e.g., Tight coupling - introduce abstractions]

Constraints:
- Must preserve: [public API, behavior]
- Can modify: [internal structure, private methods]
- Cannot change: [database schema, file formats]

Quality Metrics:
- Before: [cyclomatic complexity, lines of code]
- Target: [desired metrics]

Design Patterns to Consider:
- [Relevant patterns for the context]

Please Provide:
1. Refactored code
2. Explanation of changes
3. Benefits achieved
4. Any trade-offs made
```

### Performance Optimization Template

```text
Optimize the following code for [performance metric]:

Current Implementation:
[Paste code to optimize]

Performance Profile:
- Current metrics: [time, memory, CPU]
- Bottlenecks: [identified slow parts]
- Target improvement: [percentage or absolute]

Constraints:
- Maintain: [functionality, accuracy]
- Acceptable trade-offs: [memory vs speed]
- Platform limits: [memory, CPU cores]

Usage Patterns:
- Typical input: [size, characteristics]
- Call frequency: [how often it runs]
- Critical path: [yes/no]

Optimization Strategies to Consider:
1. Algorithmic improvements
2. Data structure changes
3. Caching/memoization
4. Parallelization
5. I/O optimization

Deliverables:
1. Optimized code
2. Performance comparison
3. Complexity analysis
4. Trade-off explanation
```

### Architecture Refactoring Template

```text
Refactor architecture from [current pattern] to [target pattern]:

Current Architecture:
- Pattern: [e.g., monolithic, tightly coupled]
- Components: [list main components]
- Dependencies: [how they connect]
- Pain points: [specific problems]

Target Architecture:
- Pattern: [e.g., microservices, hexagonal]
- Benefits sought: [scalability, testability]
- New structure: [component organization]

Migration Requirements:
- Incremental steps: [can't do big bang]
- Backward compatibility: [what must work]
- Zero downtime: [if required]

Technical Constraints:
- Technology stack: [must use existing]
- Team skills: [available expertise]
- Timeline: [deadline considerations]

Risk Mitigation:
- Testing strategy: [ensure nothing breaks]
- Rollback plan: [if something goes wrong]
- Monitoring: [what to watch]

Please Provide:
1. Step-by-step migration plan
2. Code examples for key changes
3. Interface definitions
4. Testing approach
5. Risk assessment
```

## Architecture Design Templates

### System Design Template

```text
Design a system for [purpose/domain]:

Functional Requirements:
1. [User should be able to...]
2. [System must support...]
3. [Feature requirements...]

Non-Functional Requirements:
- Performance: [requests/second, latency]
- Scalability: [users, data volume]
- Availability: [uptime SLA]
- Security: [auth, encryption, compliance]
- Maintainability: [deployment, monitoring]

Constraints:
- Budget: [cloud costs, development time]
- Technology: [existing stack, preferences]
- Team: [size, expertise]
- Timeline: [MVP date, phases]

Use Cases:
1. [Primary use case with flow]
2. [Secondary use case]
3. [Edge case handling]

Data Requirements:
- Volume: [current and projected]
- Velocity: [updates per second]
- Variety: [types of data]
- Retention: [how long to keep]

Integration Points:
- External APIs: [third-party services]
- Internal systems: [existing services]
- Client types: [web, mobile, API]

Please Design:
1. High-level architecture diagram
2. Component responsibilities
3. Data flow
4. Technology choices with rationale
5. Scaling strategy
6. Failure handling
7. Security measures
8. Deployment architecture
```

### Microservice Design Template

```text
Design a microservice for [domain/capability]:

Service Boundaries:
- Responsibility: [what it owns]
- Not responsible for: [explicit exclusions]
- Domain entities: [data it manages]

API Design:
- Protocol: [REST, gRPC, GraphQL]
- Endpoints: [operations exposed]
- Data contracts: [request/response schemas]
- Versioning strategy: [how to handle changes]

Data Management:
- Storage: [database type and why]
- Schema: [key entities and relationships]
- Consistency: [eventual, strong]
- Caching: [strategy and invalidation]

Communication:
- Sync: [direct service calls]
- Async: [events, messages]
- Service discovery: [how services find each other]
- Circuit breaking: [failure handling]

Operational Concerns:
- Monitoring: [metrics, logs, traces]
- Deployment: [containers, orchestration]
- Configuration: [environment management]
- Secrets: [handling sensitive data]

Cross-Cutting Concerns:
- Authentication: [how users are verified]
- Authorization: [access control]
- Rate limiting: [protecting the service]
- Audit logging: [compliance needs]

Please Provide:
1. Service interface definition
2. Internal architecture
3. Database schema
4. Event contracts
5. Deployment configuration
6. Monitoring setup
```

### Database Design Template

```text
Design a database schema for [application type]:

Business Requirements:
- Core entities: [users, products, orders]
- Relationships: [how entities connect]
- Business rules: [constraints, validations]
- Reporting needs: [analytics, dashboards]

Data Characteristics:
- Volume: [records per entity]
- Growth rate: [daily/monthly increase]
- Read/write ratio: [80/20, 50/50]
- Peak times: [usage patterns]

Query Patterns:
1. [Common query with frequency]
2. [Complex aggregation needs]
3. [Real-time vs batch queries]

Performance Requirements:
- Query response time: [targets]
- Write throughput: [inserts/second]
- Concurrent users: [expected load]

Consistency Requirements:
- ACID needs: [transactions required?]
- Eventual consistency: [acceptable?]
- Referential integrity: [strict or relaxed]

Please Design:
1. Entity relationship diagram
2. Table definitions with types
3. Indexes and keys
4. Partitioning strategy
5. Denormalization decisions
6. Migration approach from current schema
```

### Event-Driven Architecture Template

```text
Design an event-driven system for [use case]:

Event Sources:
- User actions: [clicks, form submissions]
- System events: [cron jobs, monitors]
- External triggers: [webhooks, APIs]

Event Types:
1. [Event name: payload structure]
2. [Event name: payload structure]

Event Flow:
- Producers: [who creates events]
- Consumers: [who processes events]
- Routing: [how events reach consumers]

Processing Requirements:
- Ordering: [FIFO, partial order, none]
- Delivery: [at-least-once, exactly-once]
- Latency: [real-time, near-real-time]
- Throughput: [events per second]

Error Handling:
- Failed processing: [retry strategy]
- Dead letter queue: [for failures]
- Monitoring: [alerting on issues]

Storage:
- Event store: [retention period]
- Replay capability: [reprocess events]
- Audit trail: [compliance needs]

Please Design:
1. Event schema definitions
2. Topic/queue structure
3. Consumer patterns
4. Error handling flows
5. Monitoring approach
6. Scaling strategy
```