> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.gainable.dev/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Best practices > Dos and don'ts for writing effective prompts ## Do this ### Be specific about data fields ```text Do this theme={null} Track contacts with: - Full name - Email address - Phone number - Company name - Job title - LinkedIn profile URL ``` ```text Don't do this theme={null} Track contact information ``` ### Specify field types when it matters ```text Do this theme={null} Track deals with: - Deal name (text) - Amount (currency) - Close date (date) - Probability (percentage) - Status (new, negotiating, won, lost) ``` ```text Don't do this theme={null} Track deals with name, amount, date, probability, status ``` Common field types to specify: * **Currency**: "amount (currency)" or "price in dollars" * **Date**: "due date" or "close date" * **Percentage**: "probability (percentage)" * **Options**: "status (option A, option B, option C)" * **Yes/No**: "is active (yes/no)" or "completed (checkbox)" ### Describe relationships clearly ```text Do this theme={null} Build a project system where: - Projects have a name and description - Each project has multiple tasks - Tasks have a title, due date, and status - Each task is assigned to one user ``` ```text Don't do this theme={null} Track projects, tasks, and users ``` ### Request specific visualizations ```text Do this theme={null} Add a dashboard with: - Total revenue card - Number of deals card - Pie chart showing deals by status - Line chart showing monthly revenue trend ``` ```text Don't do this theme={null} Add a dashboard with some charts ``` ### Define options explicitly ```text Do this theme={null} Status options: draft, pending review, approved, rejected Priority levels: low, medium, high, critical ``` ```text Don't do this theme={null} Add status and priority fields ``` *** ## Don't do this ### Don't reference other products ```text Don't do this theme={null} Build something like Asana Make it work like Notion Copy the Salesforce pipeline ``` ```text Do this instead theme={null} Build a task manager with: - Projects containing tasks - Tasks with title, assignee, due date, status - Kanban board view - List view with filters ``` Why: Gainable doesn't know what features you want from those products. Describe the specific features you need. ### Don't use vague design terms ```text Don't do this theme={null} Make it modern Keep it clean Professional looking ``` ```text Do this instead theme={null} Use the corporate theme Use blue and gray colors Use a sidebar navigation layout ``` ### Don't request everything at once ```text Don't do this theme={null} Build a complete CRM with leads, contacts, companies, deals, tasks, emails, calendar, reports, dashboards, team management, permissions, notifications, and mobile app with offline support. ``` ```text Do this instead theme={null} Build a deal tracker with: - Deals (name, amount, status, close date) - Contacts (name, email, linked to deal) - Dashboard with deal totals (Then add more features in subsequent prompts) ``` ### Don't assume Gainable knows your domain ```text Don't do this theme={null} Build a standard e-commerce checkout flow Add the usual project management features ``` ```text Do this instead theme={null} Build checkout with: - Cart review step - Shipping address form - Payment method selection - Order confirmation page ``` *** ## Changing an app you have already built Everything above is about the prompt that creates an app. Once it exists, the rules shift: you are naming things that are already there, and a plan card appears before anything changes. Naming pages and components, bug versus preference, screenshots, and the plan card. *** ## Quick reference | Situation | Best Practice | | - | - | | Defining data | List all fields with types | | Connecting data | Explicitly state relationships | | Adding charts | Name the chart type and what data it shows | | Adding features | Use feature names (kanban, chat, filter) | | Styling | Reference theme names or specific colors | ## Learn more Prompting once it's up and running See real prompts in action Templates for common app types This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.