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Coding prompts

Debugging, regex, SQL, and the script you were going to write yourself. Prompts that read the error message properly.

• work Generate a Python Script That Cleans a Messy CSV Export

  Write a Python script that fixes a genuinely messy spreadsheet export.

• work Critique a Short Code Snippet for Readability

  Get honest, kind feedback on whether your code reads clearly.

• work Break Down What a Regex Pattern Is Actually Doing

  Work out what a regular expression is actually matching, in plain English.

• work Explain What an Unfamiliar Function in a Legacy Codebase Actually Does

  Work out what an inherited chunk of legacy code is doing.

• work Compare Two Possible Causes of a Recurring Bug

  Work out which of two suspected causes is actually behind a bug.

• work Scope a Quick Internal Tool Before Anyone Starts Building

  Scope a small internal tool before anyone writes a line of code.

• work Translate a Regex Pattern Into a Plain English Explanation

  Work out what a regex actually matches without decoding the symbols yourself.

• work Translate a Technical Support Ticket Into a Client Update

  Turn an internal support ticket into an update a client can actually read.

• work Explain a Technical Architecture Decision in a Design Review Document

  Write up an architecture decision so it still makes sense in six months.

• work Explain a Confusing Error Message From a Build Log

  Work out what a build error actually means before you start guessing fixes.

• work Explain a Database Query Plan to a Non-Technical Product Manager

  Turn a query execution plan into something a product manager can act on.

• work Translate an Engineer's Bug Report for a Product Manager

  Turn an engineer's bug report into something a product manager can prioritise.

• work Compare Two SQL Query Approaches for the Same Report

  Settle an argument between two SQL queries that claim to do the same thing.

• work Critique a Piece of Regex Before It Goes Into Production

  Stress-test a regex for the edge cases it will meet in production.

• work Generate a Shell Script to Clean Up a Messy Downloads Folder

  Get a script that sorts your Downloads folder so you stop doing it by hand.

• work Explain a Confusing Error Message to Your Past Self

  Turn a baffling error message into a plain sentence and a next step.

• work Translate a Technical Bug Report into a Stakeholder Update

  Turn engineer speak into a message your stakeholders will actually read.

• work Compare Two Technical Architecture Options for a Design Decision

  Work out which architecture actually wins on more than gut feel.

• work Explain a Codebase to a New Team Member Step by Step

  Turn what is in your head about the codebase into something a new hire can actually read.

• work Explain What a Pull Request Is and How to Write One

  Work out what a pull request actually is before you open your first one.

• work Explain a Regex Pattern Line by Line

  Work out what that regex actually matches before you break it.

• work Explain the Trade-offs Behind a SQL Query Rewrite

  Work out if that query rewrite is actually faster or just different.

• work Translate Technical Findings From a QA Report Into Business Impact

  Turn a technical QA report into a business impact summary a stakeholder can act on.

• work Summarise a Quarter's Worth of Scattered Engineering Incidents

  Turn a quarter of incident reports into the one pattern leadership actually needs to hear.

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