This article emphasizes the importance of creating a PROMPT.md file in the root directory of your project when working with Large Language Models (LLMs). This file serves as a centralized repository for all project-specific context, preferences, and decisions, thereby eliminating the need to repeatedly explain your project to the LLM.

The challenge with current LLM usage often lies in maintaining context; models can either lose track of the project’s goals or require constant re-explanation. By establishing a PROMPT.md file, you provide a consistent and accessible source of information for the LLM, ensuring it remains aligned with your project’s objectives and operational guidelines. This file can also be collaboratively written and updated by the LLM itself.

Drawing inspiration from Chris McCord’s insights on Elixir and Phoenix, the article highlights how defining language-specific syntax and project conventions in a PROMPT.md file can significantly enhance the LLM’s code generation accuracy—for instance, ensuring it produces Enum.at(my_list, 0) instead of my_list[0] for Elixir. McCord’s perspective suggests prioritizing productivity gains with AI, comparing it to an artist like Michelangelo directing assistants to handle routine tasks while focusing on the grand vision.

The underlying message is that leveraging LLMs, even for generating code, shifts the developer’s role towards reviewing and refining outputs to ensure alignment with their vision. This doesn’t diminish the problem-solving or critical thinking aspects of development; instead, it empowers developers to manage and direct the creation process more efficiently, focusing on the broader architecture and finer details rather than every line of code.