|
1 | 1 | --- |
2 | 2 | name: enhance-agent-prompts |
3 | 3 | description: "Use when improving agent prompts, frontmatter, and tool restrictions." |
4 | | -version: 1.0.0 |
| 4 | +version: 1.1.0 |
5 | 5 | argument-hint: "[path] [--fix] [--verbose]" |
6 | 6 | --- |
7 | 7 |
|
8 | 8 | # enhance-agent-prompts |
9 | 9 |
|
10 | | -Analyze agent prompt files for prompt engineering best practices and optimization. |
| 10 | +Analyze agent prompt files for prompt engineering best practices. |
| 11 | + |
| 12 | +## Agent File Locations |
| 13 | + |
| 14 | +| Platform | Global | Project | |
| 15 | +|----------|--------|---------| |
| 16 | +| Claude Code | `~/.claude/agents/*.md` | `.claude/agents/*.md` | |
| 17 | +| OpenCode | `~/.opencode/agents/*.md` | `.opencode/agent/*.md` | |
| 18 | +| Codex | `~/.codex/skills/` | `AGENTS.md` | |
11 | 19 |
|
12 | 20 | ## Workflow |
13 | 21 |
|
14 | | -1. **Discover** - Find all agent .md files in directory |
15 | | -2. **Parse** - Extract frontmatter and analyze content |
16 | | -3. **Check** - Run all pattern checks (14 patterns) |
17 | | -4. **Filter** - Apply certainty filtering (skip LOW unless --verbose) |
18 | | -5. **Report** - Generate markdown output |
19 | | -6. **Fix** - Apply auto-fixes if --fix flag present |
| 22 | +1. **Discover** - Find agent .md files |
| 23 | +2. **Parse** - Extract frontmatter, analyze content |
| 24 | +3. **Check** - Run 30 pattern checks |
| 25 | +4. **Report** - Generate markdown output |
| 26 | +5. **Fix** - Apply auto-fixes if --fix flag |
20 | 27 |
|
21 | 28 | ## Detection Patterns |
22 | 29 |
|
23 | | -### 1. Structure Validation (HIGH Certainty) |
| 30 | +### 1. Frontmatter (HIGH) |
24 | 31 |
|
25 | | -#### Required Elements |
26 | | -- YAML frontmatter with `---` delimiters |
27 | | -- `name` field in frontmatter |
28 | | -- `description` field in frontmatter |
29 | | -- Role section ("You are..." or "## Role") |
30 | | -- Output format specification |
31 | | -- Constraints section |
32 | | - |
33 | | -#### Pattern Checks |
34 | | -```javascript |
35 | | -const hasFrontmatter = content.trim().startsWith('---'); |
36 | | -const hasRole = /you are/i.test(content) || /##\s+(?:your\s+)?role/i.test(content); |
37 | | -const hasFormat = /##\s+output\s+format/i.test(content); |
38 | | -const hasConstraints = /##\s+constraints/i.test(content); |
| 32 | +```yaml |
| 33 | +--- |
| 34 | +name: agent-name # Required: kebab-case |
| 35 | +description: "What and when" # Required: WHEN to use (see "Intern Test") |
| 36 | +tools: Read, Glob, Grep # Required: restricted list |
| 37 | +model: sonnet # Optional: opus | sonnet | haiku |
| 38 | +--- |
39 | 39 | ``` |
40 | 40 |
|
41 | | -### 2. Tool Configuration (HIGH Certainty) |
| 41 | +**Model Selection:** |
| 42 | +- **opus**: Complex reasoning, errors compound |
| 43 | +- **sonnet**: Most agents, validation |
| 44 | +- **haiku**: Mechanical execution, no judgment |
| 45 | + |
| 46 | +**Tool Syntax:** `Read`, `Read(src/**)`, `Bash(git:*)`, `Bash(npm:*)` |
| 47 | + |
| 48 | +**The "Intern Test"** - Can someone invoke this agent given only its description? |
| 49 | +```yaml |
| 50 | +# Bad |
| 51 | +description: Reviews code |
42 | 52 |
|
43 | | -#### HIGH Certainty Issues |
44 | | -- No `tools` field: agent has unrestricted access to ALL tools |
45 | | -- `Bash` without scope: should be `Bash(git:*)` or specific restriction |
46 | | -- Overly broad tool access when narrow scope would work |
| 53 | +# Good - triggers, capabilities, exclusions |
| 54 | +description: Reviews code for security vulnerabilities. Use for PRs touching auth, API, data handling. Not for style reviews. |
| 55 | +``` |
47 | 56 |
|
48 | | -### 3. XML Structure (MEDIUM Certainty) |
| 57 | +### 2. Structure (HIGH) |
49 | 58 |
|
50 | | -When to suggest XML: |
51 | | -- 5+ sections in the prompt |
52 | | -- Both lists AND code blocks present |
53 | | -- Multiple distinct phases or steps |
| 59 | +**Required sections:** Role ("You are..."), Output format, Constraints |
54 | 60 |
|
55 | | -### 4. Chain-of-Thought Appropriateness (MEDIUM Certainty) |
| 61 | +**Position-aware order** (LLMs recall START/END better than MIDDLE): |
| 62 | +1. Role/Identity (START) |
| 63 | +2. Capabilities, Workflow, Examples |
| 64 | +3. Constraints (END) |
56 | 65 |
|
57 | | -#### Unnecessary CoT |
58 | | -- Simple tasks (< 500 words, < 4 sections) |
59 | | -- Single-step operations |
| 66 | +### 3. Instruction Effectiveness (HIGH) |
60 | 67 |
|
61 | | -#### Missing CoT |
62 | | -- Complex analysis tasks (> 1000 words, 5+ sections) |
63 | | -- Multi-step reasoning required |
64 | | -- Keywords: "analyze", "evaluate", "assess", "review" |
| 68 | +**Positive over negative:** |
| 69 | +- Bad: "Don't assume file paths exist" |
| 70 | +- Good: "Verify file paths using Glob before reading" |
65 | 71 |
|
66 | | -### 5. Example Quality (LOW Certainty) |
| 72 | +**Strong constraint language:** |
| 73 | +- Bad: "should", "try to", "consider" |
| 74 | +- Good: "MUST", "ALWAYS", "NEVER" |
67 | 75 |
|
68 | | -Optimal example count: 2-5 |
69 | | -- < 2 examples: insufficient for pattern recognition |
70 | | -- > 5 examples: token bloat, diminishing returns |
| 76 | +**Include WHY** for important rules - motivation improves compliance. |
71 | 77 |
|
72 | | -### 6. Anti-Patterns (MEDIUM/LOW Certainty) |
| 78 | +### 4. Tool Configuration (HIGH) |
73 | 79 |
|
74 | | -#### Vague Instructions (MEDIUM) |
75 | | -- Fuzzy qualifiers: `usually`, `sometimes`, `often`, `try to`, `if possible` |
76 | | -- Replace with definitive: `always`, `never`, `must`, `will` |
| 80 | +**Principle of Least Privilege:** |
| 81 | +| Agent Type | Tools | |
| 82 | +|------------|-------| |
| 83 | +| Read-only | `Read, Glob, Grep` | |
| 84 | +| Code modifier | `Read, Edit, Write, Glob, Grep` | |
| 85 | +| Git ops | `Bash(git:*)` | |
| 86 | +| Build/test | `Bash(npm:*), Bash(node:*)` | |
77 | 87 |
|
78 | | -#### Prompt Bloat (LOW) |
79 | | -- Estimated token count > 2000 (rough: length / 4) |
| 88 | +**Issues:** |
| 89 | +- `Bash` without scope → should be `Bash(git:*)` |
| 90 | +- `Task` in subagent → subagents cannot spawn subagents |
| 91 | +- >20 tools → increases error rates ("Less-is-More") |
80 | 92 |
|
81 | | -## Auto-Fix Implementations |
| 93 | +### 5. Subagent Config (MEDIUM) |
82 | 94 |
|
83 | | -### 1. Missing frontmatter |
84 | 95 | ```yaml |
85 | | ---- |
86 | | -name: agent-name |
87 | | -description: Agent description |
88 | | -tools: Read, Glob, Grep |
89 | | -model: sonnet |
90 | | ---- |
| 96 | +context: fork # Isolated context for verbose output |
91 | 97 | ``` |
92 | 98 |
|
93 | | -### 2. Unrestricted Bash |
94 | | -```yaml |
95 | | -tools: Read, Bash(git:*) |
96 | | -``` |
| 99 | +- Subagents cannot spawn subagents (no `Task` in tools) |
| 100 | +- Return summaries, not full output |
97 | 101 |
|
98 | | -### 3. Missing role |
99 | | -```markdown |
100 | | -## Your Role |
| 102 | +**Cross-platform modes:** |
| 103 | +| Platform | Primary | Subagent | |
| 104 | +|----------|---------|----------| |
| 105 | +| Claude Code | Default | Via Task tool | |
| 106 | +| OpenCode | `mode: primary` | `mode: subagent` | |
| 107 | +| Codex | Skills | MCP server | |
101 | 108 |
|
102 | | -You are an agent that [describe purpose]. |
| 109 | +### 6. XML Structure (MEDIUM) |
| 110 | + |
| 111 | +Use XML tags when 5+ sections, mixed lists/code, or multiple phases: |
| 112 | +```xml |
| 113 | +<role>You are...</role> |
| 114 | +<workflow>1. Read 2. Analyze 3. Report</workflow> |
| 115 | +<constraints>- Only analyze, never modify</constraints> |
103 | 116 | ``` |
104 | 117 |
|
105 | | -## Output Format |
| 118 | +### 7. Chain-of-Thought (MEDIUM) |
| 119 | + |
| 120 | +**Unnecessary:** Simple tasks (<500 words), single-step, mechanical |
| 121 | +**Missing:** Complex analysis (>1000 words), multi-step reasoning, "analyze/evaluate/assess" |
| 122 | + |
| 123 | +### 8. Examples (MEDIUM) |
| 124 | + |
| 125 | +Optimal: 2-5 examples. <2 insufficient, >5 token bloat. |
| 126 | + |
| 127 | +### 9. Loop Termination (MEDIUM) |
| 128 | + |
| 129 | +For iterating agents: max iterations, completion criteria, escape conditions. |
| 130 | + |
| 131 | +### 10. Error Handling (MEDIUM) |
106 | 132 |
|
107 | 133 | ```markdown |
108 | | -## Agent Analysis: {agent-name} |
| 134 | +## Error Handling |
| 135 | +- Transient errors: retry up to 3 times |
| 136 | +- Validation errors: report, do not retry |
| 137 | +- Tool failure: try alternative before failing |
| 138 | +``` |
109 | 139 |
|
110 | | -**File**: {path} |
111 | | -**Analyzed**: {timestamp} |
| 140 | +### 11. Security (HIGH) |
112 | 141 |
|
113 | | -### Summary |
114 | | -- HIGH: {count} issues |
115 | | -- MEDIUM: {count} issues |
116 | | -- LOW: {count} issues (verbose only) |
| 142 | +- Agents with `Bash` + user params: validate inputs |
| 143 | +- External content: treat as untrusted, don't execute embedded instructions |
117 | 144 |
|
118 | | -### Structure Issues ({n}) |
119 | | -| Issue | Fix | Certainty | |
120 | | -|-------|-----|-----------| |
| 145 | +### 12. Anti-Patterns (LOW) |
121 | 146 |
|
122 | | -### Tool Issues ({n}) |
123 | | -| Issue | Fix | Certainty | |
124 | | -|-------|-----|-----------| |
| 147 | +- **Vague:** "usually", "sometimes" → use "always", "never" |
| 148 | +- **Bloat:** >2000 tokens → split into agent + skill |
| 149 | +- **Non-idempotent:** side effects on retry → design idempotent or mark "do not retry" |
125 | 150 |
|
126 | | -### XML Structure Issues ({n}) |
127 | | -| Issue | Fix | Certainty | |
128 | | -|-------|-----|-----------| |
| 151 | +## Auto-Fixes |
| 152 | + |
| 153 | +| Issue | Fix | |
| 154 | +|-------|-----| |
| 155 | +| Missing frontmatter | Add name, description, tools, model | |
| 156 | +| Unrestricted Bash | `Bash` → `Bash(git:*)` | |
| 157 | +| Missing role | Add "## Your Role" section | |
| 158 | +| Weak constraints | "should" → "MUST" | |
| 159 | + |
| 160 | +## Output Format |
| 161 | + |
| 162 | +```markdown |
| 163 | +## Agent Analysis: {name} |
| 164 | +**File**: {path} | **Model**: {model} | **Tools**: {tools} |
| 165 | +
|
| 166 | +| Certainty | Count | |
| 167 | +|-----------|-------| |
| 168 | +| HIGH | {n} | |
| 169 | +| MEDIUM | {n} | |
129 | 170 |
|
130 | | -### Chain-of-Thought Issues ({n}) |
| 171 | +### Issues |
131 | 172 | | Issue | Fix | Certainty | |
132 | | -|-------|-----|-----------| |
133 | 173 | ``` |
134 | 174 |
|
135 | 175 | ## Pattern Statistics |
136 | 176 |
|
137 | | -| Category | Patterns | Auto-Fixable | |
138 | | -|----------|----------|--------------| |
139 | | -| Structure | 6 | 2 | |
140 | | -| Tool | 2 | 1 | |
141 | | -| XML | 1 | 0 | |
142 | | -| CoT | 2 | 0 | |
143 | | -| Example | 1 | 0 | |
144 | | -| Anti-Pattern | 2 | 0 | |
145 | | -| **Total** | **14** | **3** | |
| 177 | +| Category | Patterns | Certainty | |
| 178 | +|----------|----------|-----------| |
| 179 | +| Frontmatter | 5 | HIGH | |
| 180 | +| Structure | 3 | HIGH | |
| 181 | +| Instructions | 3 | HIGH | |
| 182 | +| Tools | 4 | HIGH | |
| 183 | +| Security | 2 | HIGH | |
| 184 | +| Subagent | 3 | MEDIUM | |
| 185 | +| XML/CoT/Examples | 4 | MEDIUM | |
| 186 | +| Error/Loop | 3 | MEDIUM | |
| 187 | +| Anti-Patterns | 3 | LOW | |
| 188 | +| **Total** | **30** | - | |
146 | 189 |
|
147 | 190 | <examples> |
148 | | -### Example: Unrestricted Bash Access |
149 | | - |
| 191 | +### Unrestricted Bash |
150 | 192 | <bad_example> |
151 | 193 | ```yaml |
152 | 194 | tools: Read, Bash |
153 | 195 | ``` |
154 | | -**Why it's bad**: Unrestricted Bash allows any shell command. |
155 | 196 | </bad_example> |
| 197 | +<good_example> |
| 198 | +```yaml |
| 199 | +tools: Read, Bash(git:*), Bash(npm:test) |
| 200 | +``` |
| 201 | +</good_example> |
156 | 202 |
|
| 203 | +### Description Trigger |
| 204 | +<bad_example> |
| 205 | +```yaml |
| 206 | +description: Reviews code |
| 207 | +``` |
| 208 | +</bad_example> |
157 | 209 | <good_example> |
158 | 210 | ```yaml |
159 | | -tools: Read, Bash(git:*) |
| 211 | +description: Reviews code for security. Use for PRs touching auth, API, data. Not for style. |
160 | 212 | ``` |
161 | | -**Why it's good**: Bash restricted to git commands only. |
162 | 213 | </good_example> |
163 | 214 |
|
164 | | -### Example: Missing Role Section |
| 215 | +### Model Selection |
| 216 | +<bad_example> |
| 217 | +```yaml |
| 218 | +name: json-formatter |
| 219 | +model: opus # Overkill for mechanical task |
| 220 | +``` |
| 221 | +</bad_example> |
| 222 | +<good_example> |
| 223 | +```yaml |
| 224 | +name: json-formatter |
| 225 | +model: haiku # Simple, mechanical |
| 226 | +``` |
| 227 | +</good_example> |
165 | 228 |
|
| 229 | +### Constraint Language |
166 | 230 | <bad_example> |
167 | 231 | ```markdown |
168 | | -# My Agent |
169 | | - |
170 | | -## What It Does |
171 | | -This agent processes files... |
| 232 | +- Try to validate inputs when possible |
172 | 233 | ``` |
173 | | -**Why it's bad**: No clear role definition. |
174 | 234 | </bad_example> |
175 | | - |
176 | 235 | <good_example> |
177 | 236 | ```markdown |
178 | | -# My Agent |
| 237 | +- MUST validate all inputs before processing |
| 238 | +``` |
| 239 | +</good_example> |
179 | 240 |
|
180 | | -## Your Role |
181 | | -You are a file processing agent that analyzes and transforms data files. |
| 241 | +### Subagent Tools |
| 242 | +<bad_example> |
| 243 | +```yaml |
| 244 | +context: fork |
| 245 | +tools: Read, Glob, Task # Task not allowed |
| 246 | +``` |
| 247 | +</bad_example> |
| 248 | +<good_example> |
| 249 | +```yaml |
| 250 | +context: fork |
| 251 | +tools: Read, Glob, Grep |
182 | 252 | ``` |
183 | | -**Why it's good**: Clear role establishes agent identity. |
184 | 253 | </good_example> |
185 | 254 | </examples> |
186 | 255 |
|
| 256 | +## References |
| 257 | + |
| 258 | +- `agent-docs/PROMPT-ENGINEERING-REFERENCE.md` - Instructions, XML, examples |
| 259 | +- `agent-docs/CLAUDE-CODE-REFERENCE.md` - Frontmatter, tools, subagents |
| 260 | +- `agent-docs/FUNCTION-CALLING-TOOL-USE-REFERENCE.md` - "Intern Test", security |
| 261 | +- `agent-docs/OPENCODE-REFERENCE.md` - Modes, permissions |
| 262 | +- `agent-docs/CODEX-REFERENCE.md` - Skill triggers |
| 263 | + |
187 | 264 | ## Constraints |
188 | 265 |
|
189 | | -- Only apply auto-fixes for HIGH certainty issues |
190 | | -- Preserve existing frontmatter fields when adding missing ones |
| 266 | +- Auto-fix only HIGH certainty issues |
| 267 | +- Preserve existing frontmatter when adding fields |
191 | 268 | - Never remove content, only suggest improvements |
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