Effective Prompts for Code Generation with AI

AI tools like ChatGPT and GitHub Copilot excel at code generation when given clear, structured prompts. These techniques help developers write better code faster.

Specifying Programming Language

Always state the language explicitly. “Write a Python function to validate email addresses using regex. Include error handling and return True for valid emails.”

Providing Context and Requirements

Define inputs, outputs, and constraints. “Create a JavaScript function that sorts an array of objects by date property. Handle null values and maintain original order for equal dates.”

Requesting Code Documentation

Ask for comments and explanations. “Write a SQL query to find duplicate records in users table. Include comments explaining each part and example output.”

Debug and Optimization Prompts

Improve existing code. “Optimize this Python loop for better performance. Current code processes 10,000 records in 5 seconds. Suggest improvements.”

Test Case Generation

Create comprehensive tests. “Generate 10 unit test cases for this password validation function. Include edge cases, boundary conditions, and expected failures.”

Code Review Requests

Get AI feedback. “Review this React component for security vulnerabilities, performance issues, and best practices. Provide specific recommendations.”

Algorithm Implementation

Implement specific algorithms. “Implement binary search algorithm in Java with recursion. Include time complexity analysis and example usage.”