30 Best ChatGPT Prompts for Software Engineers
The term “prompt engineering” is gaining notoriety for a reason; ChatGPT outputs range from buggy code to completely functional applications that even non-technical users can create out-of-the-box. Simply put, the quality of the output depends on the quality of the input.
While this powerful tool can assist with every stage of the software development lifecycle (SDLC), it takes an understanding of the foundations of effective prompting to customize prompt templates to your unique use cases and needs. Because ChatGPT can theoretically assist with any query, understanding the principles of prompting will help you apply this tool to a variety of unique circumstances.
Principles of ChatGPT Prompting for Software Engineers
To best leverage ChatGPT, software engineers should:
- Provide clear and specific prompts
- Provide context and constraints
- Use natural language and technical terminology appropriately
- Review and refine outputs for accuracy and completeness
In addition to understanding prompting principles, you’ll also need to tailor your prompts to your unique environment. First and foremost, you must consider:
- The goals and objectives of your project
- The stage of the SDLC that you're at
- The technical and subject matter expertise of your team
- The resources available to you, including time, budget, and technologies
Best ChatGPT Prompts for Software Engineering
To effectively adopt ChatGPT into the SDLC, engineers should consider the best prompts for every stage. In many stages, ChatGPT is better at saving time by producing tedious documentation rather than doing the “thinking” for you. Remember to consider ChatGPT as a brainstorming tool, a colleague, and an assistant rather than a senior software engineer itself.
1. Planning Stage
In the planning stage, ChatGPT can help developers define the scope and requirements of a software project and identify potential challenges or opportunities. To get started, describe what you’re trying to accomplish, and ask specific questions like:
- What are the goals of this project?
- Who are the stakeholders?
- What is the timeline for the project?
- What is the budget for the project?
Once you’ve leveraged ChatGPT for research, let it assist you in creating project documents that outline a shared understanding of the project’s goals, objectives, and resources.
Sample Prompt:
“Generate a project charter document that outlines the purpose, goals, scope, deliverables, stakeholders, and success criteria for a software development project. The project is to develop a mobile application for a healthcare provider that will allow patients to schedule appointments, view medical records, and communicate with healthcare providers. The project will be managed by a team of 5 developers and is expected to take 6 months to complete. The budget for the project is $500,000. Please ensure that the document follows our company’s style guide and includes all necessary sections and information.”
2. Analysis Stage
In the analysis stage, ChatGPT can help developers gather and analyze information about the software project and identify potential solutions or approaches. Start with prompts like:
- What are the requirements for the system?
- What functionality is needed?
- What technology stack should be used?
Use ChatGPT to brainstorm approaches and further define the scope of your project. Then, leverage the tool to create the materials you need.
Sample Prompt:
“Generate a software requirements specification (SRS) document for a software system that will be used by a retail company to manage their inventory and sales. The system should allow users to add, modify, and delete products, track inventory levels, generate sales reports, and process customer orders. The system should be accessible via desktop and mobile devices and should be scalable and secure. Please ensure that the document includes all necessary sections, such as functional and non-functional requirements, user interface design, data management, and security requirements. Also, please ensure that the document follows our company’s style guide and is easy to read and understand.”
3. Design Stage
In the design stage, ChatGPT can help developers create the architectural and visual design for the software project. To refine your understanding of the design, start with questions like:
- What is the user flow?
- What are the inputs and outputs of the system?
- What is the overall architecture of the system?
Once you have a better grasp of the design, fill in the details of your prompt to generate a comprehensive design document.
Sample Prompt:
“Generate a detailed design document for a software system that will be used to manage a retail company’s inventory and sales. The system should have a modular architecture that allows for easy scaling and maintenance. It should have a web-based user interface that is intuitive and easy to use, with features for adding, modifying, and deleting products, tracking inventory levels, generating sales reports, and processing customer orders. The system should use a database to store and manage its data, with provisions for security, backup, and recovery. The document should include detailed descriptions of the system architecture, software design, user interface design, and database design, along with any diagrams or flowcharts necessary to explain these concepts. Please ensure that the document follows our company’s style guide and is easy to read and understand.”
4. Development Stage
In the development stage, ChatGPT can help developers write and test code for the software project. While ChatGPT can generate complete code or scripts for specific tasks, its output may not always be production-ready. The code generated by ChatGPT can be used as a starting point for further development and refinement.
Rather, ChatGPT is best used to assist software developers by providing them with suggestions and ideas for code and scripts. Some effective questions are as follows:
- What is the code structure?
- What are the input and output parameters?
- What are the security considerations?
To actually generate code, be sure to provide the context outlined in the previous SDLC stages.
Sample Prompt:
“Generate a set of code snippets for implementing a web-based user interface for a software system that allows users to manage their personal finances. The user interface should be easy to navigate and use, with features for adding and tracking income and expenses, generating reports, and setting financial goals. The system should use a database to store and manage its data, with provisions for security, backup, and recovery. The code snippets should be written in Python, and should follow best practices for web development, including using a modern framework and adhering to the principles of separation of concerns and modularity. Please ensure that the code is well-documented, follows our company’s coding style guide, and is easy to read and understand.”
