When I set out to create a small exercise reminder app with Click-Coder, I figured it would be a quick and simple task. But like many developers using AI for coding, I learned an important lesson — clear and thoughtful prompts are everything.
My Initial Prompt
Here’s the first prompt I gave to Click-Coder:
“Please write a Python app to run on my Windows desktop. Every 3 days it should pop up at 8am, 10am, noon, 2pm, 4pm and remind me to exercise. There should be buttons Snooze 2 hr, Snooze 1 day and Done for Day.”
Seems reasonable, right? Unfortunately, this prompt was too vague and incomplete. As a result, the app Click-Coder generated required dozens of additional prompts to refine the interface, fix bugs, and clarify my original intent.
The Power of Hindsight
Once the app was complete, I reviewed the Click-Coder prompt log to see where I could have improved. From that, I created what I now call a “Hindsight Prompt” — a refined, detailed version of the original request that included everything I truly wanted from the start.
Here’s the hindsight prompt I came up with:
- Please write a Python application for Windows that reminds me to exercise at scheduled times.
- Buttons to adjust next reminder time (-1 dy, -1 hr, -15 m, +15 m, +1 hr, +1 dy).
- Day adjustments reset time to 8:00am.
- For [-1 dy] don’t allow setting before today.
- A Schedule button minimizes the app till the next reminder.
- Heading: ‘It’s Time!’.
- Save date of last exercise across sessions.
- Show ‘Last exercise was __ days ago’.
- Show dates with day-of-week and times in 12 hr format.
- Simple UI.
- Runs timer while minimized.
Pop up to exercise at scheduled time. - On launching the app, open with scheduled time of today 8am.
- If I set the schedule to before now and click the Schedule button, reopen in ~5 sec.
- Modularize code into a few logical files.
Results of the Refined Prompt
With the hindsight prompt, Click-Coder nailed it on the first try. The app worked exactly as I envisioned — clean interface, intuitive behavior, and accurate reminders.
Key Lessons Learned
Be Thoughtful with Your Prompts
The more detailed and precise your prompt, the more accurate and efficient the result will be. Take time to think about all your requirements before you type them in.
LLMs Are Better at Starting Fresh
When you need to make big changes or your project feels stuck, it’s often more effective to throw out the old code and write a fresh, comprehensive prompt rather than trying to patch things up piecemeal.
Use the Hindsight Prompt Strategy
Keep track of the revisions and iterations you make. Then, once your project is working, go back and write the prompt you should have used. You’ll not only save time on future projects, but also sharpen your prompt-writing skills.
Ready to build smarter and faster with Click-Coder? Start with a strong prompt — or better yet, your own hindsight prompt.
Conclusion
The journey from a rough initial idea to a polished, working application showed me just how powerful thoughtful prompting can be when working with AI coding tools like Click-Coder. By stepping back, rethinking my goals, and crafting a clear hindsight prompt, I turned frustration into success. Whether you’re a seasoned developer or just starting out, the right prompt can make all the difference. With tools like Click-Coder, anyone can code — all it takes is a bit of clarity, creativity, and a willingness to learn from hindsight.
