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I have some prompt tips to share

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Prompting is everything in the age of vibe coding. Knowing how to guide AI precisely and efficiently is the key to getting the results you want. Today, I’m sharing some of my favorite prompting tips, plus a handy cheatsheet I put together.

Prompting Tips That Actually Work

  • Be spatially specific. Use keywords like "left", "right", "centered", "aligned to bottom", "spaced evenly" to help the model place elements correctly.

  • Mention device behavior. If it should behave differently on mobile vs desktop, say so. Ex: "stacks on mobile, grid on desktop".

  • Use visual vocabulary. Mention familiar UI terms like "modal", "toast", "card", "hero section", or "split view" to tap into known design structures.

  • Give UX intent. Add the why: "Add white space for readability", "Add a hover effect for feedback", "Use a progress bar to show completion".

  • Sequence your ideas. For complex prompts, list in steps: "First, add a header. Below that, place a form with two inputs...". AI loves structure.

  • Say what not to do. If you want to avoid scrollbars, animations, shadows, etc., say so.

  • Don’t forget empty states. Great design considers what happens when nothing is there — say "show a placeholder when list is empty".

  • Test prompt variants. Swap words like "tile" vs "card", "modal" vs "popup" to see which gives cleaner structure.

  • Use active voice. Start with a verb: "Add", "Place", "Make", "Create", "Animate", "Style". It helps guide generation.

You can try out these prompts directly on Trickle.so to see how they work in action.

Hope it helps! If you have better ideas or go-to prompt tricks, feel free to drop them in the comments.

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Nika

The better designer/coder/video maker you are, the better you know how to describe elements in the prompt. That's why being specialised is a benefit here.

BUT you can also use "reverse" prompting: You upload a solution and ask for a description.

@busmark_w_nika You’re absolutely right. Now that we have AI coding, there is no longer a single right answer. Everyone can have their own optimal solution.

Eric Lens

I used to forget about mentioning mobile behavior and things would look great on desktop but totally break on smaller screens.

@eric_lens Yeah, I’ve run into that as well. It’s definitely something a lot of people tend to overlook.

Deepanshu Chittoria

Great prompting tips @min_zhou , if you don't tell AI exactly what you want, you’ll end up with a "modal" that looks more like a "pop-up nightmare."

@deepanshu_chittoria Thanks, exactly. Now it’s all about how precisely we can break down our ideas for a website or app using the right language.

Zeng

Great tip for generating apps and websites. Thank you!

@zeng Thank you. Love your Christmas tree prompt generator. it's really inspiring.

Zeng

@min_zhou Thank you so much!

Harvansh Chaudhary
This is such a solid list. I’ve been building AI tools using nothing but prompts, no code, just carefully written instructions and yeah, this stuff matters way more than people think. Things like being super clear with spacing, mentioning mobile vs desktop, or even just saying what not to do… all of that can make or break the output. I’ve shipped tools like Threddr and Unrealshot AI and shipping more in coming weeks by leaning hard into prompt quality not just fancy words, but clear structure and intent. Prompts are basically my codebase. Appreciate you putting this together. Anyone curious to learn my methods how ai builders build full stack projects for me, can connect me on X, happy to help fellow builders- x.com/AINotSoSmart

@harvanshchaudhary Thank you so much for sharing. I also hope more people get to use and benefit from your projects.

Harvansh Chaudhary

@min_zhou Thank you! I really appreciate it. By the way, Threddr just launched! It helps creators find potential customers by scanning relevant Reddit posts where people are looking for products like theirs. It’s already been a game-changer for me, and I’m excited to see how it can help others too. Feel free to check it out!

Shadman Nazim

I tried following them, but my AI now demands a raise and better snacks.😅
By the way great tips, Min!