DorrisPrompt
Something broke and I don't know what it means
- Free
- Unstuck
Something broke
I just did this: <what you clicked or typed, in a few words>
This is what I got: <paste the error here, or drag in a screenshot>
I don't know what it means. Work out what went wrong and fix it. Then tell me in one plain sentence what was wrong and what you changed, and stop.When to use it
An error appeared and you don't know what it means. You don't need to.
You know it worked when
It's fixed, and you got one plain sentence saying what was wrong and what changed.
Notes
You don't need to understand an error to get it fixed. Paste it, or a screenshot of it, to your agent with these two lines. Nine times out of ten I don't even read the error.
A screenshot dragged into the chat works too: show it, don't describe it.
When the quick way isn't enough
Use the careful version when the fix didn't work, the same thing broke twice, or customers can see it. The agent explains itself before it touches anything.
Something broke: the careful version
Something broke and I don't know what it means. I am not a software engineer, so explain it to me in plain English and don't assume I know the words.
What I was trying to do:
<one sentence>
What I actually did:
<the exact thing I typed, or the exact button I clicked>
What came back, pasted exactly:
<paste all of it, including the parts that look like gibberish>
What I expected instead:
<one sentence>
Before you change anything, answer these four:
1. In two or three sentences, what does this actually mean and what caused it?
2. Is this broken only on my own computer, or can other people see it right now? Answer this one first if the answer is other people.
3. What is the single smallest change that would fix it, and what does that change touch?
4. If you are not sure, say you are not sure, and tell me the one thing I could look at that would settle it.
Do not edit any files yet. Answer those four, then stop and wait for me to say go.Show the whole prompt (21 lines)Show less
A good result is four short answers and an untouched project. If the agent fixes it in the same message, tell it to put back what it changed and answer first.