How-to · WFL · WFL.4

Define done-when before you prompt

Writing the acceptance criteria before prompting turns AI sessions from wandering chats into checkable work units.

Before your next AI task, write one done-when line first. Then prompt. You're done when you've graded the output against your line — pass or fail, no vibes.

Worked example

The prompt is not the start; the finish line is. Writing 'done-when' first — under 200 words, includes cost, no invented facts — turns a wandering chat into a work unit you can check. It's the single habit that separates users from operators.

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Define done-when before you prompt · ConeheadAI How-to | ConeheadAI