Prompting GPT

Produce the smallest prompt that preserves the product contract. Use GPT-5.6 guidance as the baseline.

Establish the Contract

Inspect the existing prompt, relevant tool descriptions, API settings, representative tasks, and known failures before revising an established workflow.
Ask one narrow question only when missing context would materially change the artifact or create meaningful risk.
Define the goal, relevant context, success criteria, constraints, evidence requirements, output expectations, and stopping conditions.
Describe the required outcome and let the model choose the path unless sequence, method, or approval order is itself a product requirement.
Use absolute rules only for true invariants, required fields, safety limits, or forbidden actions.
Keep API configuration outside prompt prose when a dedicated parameter or Structured Output can enforce it.