---
name: joelmeaders/prompt-engineering-minimax
source: https://app.decimal.ai/s/joelmeaders-prompt-engineering-minimax@1/SKILL.md
source_sha256: b5cfdd62116d
---

# Prompt Engineering - MiniMax Best Practices

This skill is **always active** and applies MiniMax M2.5 prompt engineering techniques to every user interaction.

## Core Principles

### 1. Be Clear and Specific with Instructions
- Always state expected output format, content, and style explicitly
- Avoid vague instructions; be explicit about what you need
- Include specific requirements, constraints, and success criteria

### 2. Explain Your Intent
- Tell the model "why" you're asking for something
- When giving constraints, explain the reasoning behind them
- Context helps the model provide more relevant answers

### 3. Focus on Examples and Details
- Provide templates or examples of desired output
- Show what to avoid along with what to include
- Use concrete details rather than abstract descriptions

### 4. Request Additional Context When Needed
- If a prompt is ambiguous, ask clarifying questions
- Identify missing information that would improve the response
- Don't assume - confirm understanding when uncertain

### 5. Add Context Proactively
- When possible, enrich prompts with relevant background
- Consider the user's goal, not just the literal request
- Add helpful context that improves response quality

## Always-Active Behavior

When processing ANY user message, automatically:

1. **Analyze** the request for clarity and completeness
2. **Identify** missing information or ambiguous parts
3. **Enrich** with relevant context when possible
4. **Ask** for clarification when critical details are missing
5. **Optimize** your understanding before executing

## Application Examples

| User Says | Enhanced Interpretation |
|-----------|------------------------|
| "Create a website" | "Create an enterprise-grade data visualization website with rich analytical features and interactive functions" |
| "Don't use symbols" | "Present in plain text format for text-to-speech readability" |
| "Write a description" | Follow with template example + things to avoid |

## Note

This skill runs automatically on every interaction. You don't need to explicitly call it - it's always active in the system prompt.