Promptles
Context

Point, or Let It Look

Point Claude at a file when it holds a decision or a look-alike trap. Otherwise let it search.

Claude can search your project on its own, so you don't need to list every file or describe the folder layout. Point it at a file when that file holds something Claude wouldn't think to check (a decision in the README, a ticket, a sample) or when two things look alike and only one is right. Otherwise, state the outcome and let it look. Vague: "The site has index.html, styles.css, app.js, and a data folder. Add a dark mode." Specific: "Add a dark mode. Use the colors in brand-notes.md, not the old palette in legacy.css, and show me a screenshot."

Where you'll practice this

3 Promptles scenarios teach this principle directly. Each one drops you into a real engineering ticket and asks you to write the prompt you'd send to Claude Code.

  • Point at the Right Teal

    Rosa wants a Wholesale link in Copper Kettle's shop header so café buyers can find their price list at `/wholesale`. The header reads its links from `nav-links.ts` and its colors from `theme.ts`. Nadia chose the link's color, "kettle teal", and wrote it into…

  • Guard the Revenue Reports

    Copper Kettle's admin dashboard needs a `GET /api/reports` endpoint that lists the monthly sales reports. These reports show revenue, so only staff may see them. Every existing route uses `authMiddleware`, which lets in any logged-in customer. Ollie, who runs finance and…

  • Set Up the Empty Repo

    June Halvorsen, president of the Harbor Kayak Club (a volunteer paddling club on San Francisco Bay), ran the kickoff call for `tidepool`, a small API (a service other apps ask for data) that will serve tide times for the spots members paddle. The repo is empty except for a…

Other principles in Context