Chapters 1 and 2 introduced the mechanics of prompts and various sophisticated techniques. However, achieving consistent and reliable results requires more than just knowing the options; it demands a structured approach to design, testing, and refinement. This chapter concentrates on that process.

You will learn guidelines for effective prompt construction, practical ways to handle context length constraints, and systematic methods for iterating on prompts. Furthermore, we will cover techniques for evaluating prompt effectiveness, introduce concepts for automating prompt testing, and examine best practices for tracking prompt versions during development. The goal is to equip you with a methodical workflow for building prompts that perform well for your specific application needs.