template-design

Template Design

A prompt template is a reusable prompt structure with variable slots that get filled at runtime. Templates create consistency across similar tasks and make prompt management scalable.

Template Anatomy

A template has:

• Fixed text: The parts that stay the same every time (instructions, format, role)
• Variables: Slots that get filled with specific content (user input, retrieved data, configuration)
• Conditional sections: Parts that appear or disappear based on context
• Default values: What fills a variable if no specific value is provided

Designing Variables

Each variable should be:

• Named clearly: {user_query} not {input1}
• Typed: Is it free text, a selection from options, a number, a boolean?
• Bounded: What are valid values? What's the maximum length?
• Documented: What is this variable for? Where does its value come from?
• Defaulted: What happens if the value is missing?

Template Patterns

• Task template: A template for a specific type of task. Variables capture the task-specific details while instructions remain constant.
• Persona template: A template where the persona is variable but the task structure is fixed. Useful for multi-persona products.
• Format template: A template where the output format is variable but the analysis approach is fixed.
• Escalation template: A base template with additional sections that activate at higher complexity levels.

Template Composition

Complex prompts can be built from smaller templates:

• Base template: Core instructions that apply to everything
• Task overlay: Task-specific instructions layered on top
• Context injection: Retrieved information inserted at a specific point
• User preferences: Personal settings that modify behavior

Template Quality Criteria

• Consistency: The template produces reliably similar outputs for similar inputs
• Flexibility: The variables allow enough variation for diverse use cases
• Clarity: The template is easy to read, maintain, and modify
• Testability: You can verify the template works with a standard set of test inputs
• Maintainability: Changes to one part don't break other parts

Design Artefacts

• Template library with documentation
• Variable specifications per template
• Test input sets for each template
• Template versioning and change log
• Composition rules for combining templates