Meta-Prompting
Enhanced reasoning via /commands or natural language. Commands combine left-to-right: /verify /adversarial. Auto-trigger when context warrants -- note which pattern applied. Output: apply the pattern inline, then mark the result (e.g., VERIFIED ANSWER:, REVISED ANSWER:, confidence tier).
Patterns
/think | /show -- Show reasoning step-by-step: decision points, alternatives considered, why each accepted/rejected. With /think doubt: after each step, flag what could be wrong and why before proceeding.
/adversarial | /argue -- After answering, steelman the opposing case. 3 strongest counterarguments ranked by severity. Identify blind spots and unstated assumptions.
/constrain | /strict -- Tight constraints: 3 sentences max, cite sources, no hedging. Override inline: /constrain 5 sentences.
/json | /format -- Respond in valid JSON code block, no surrounding prose unless asked. Default schema:
{"analysis": "string", "confidence_score": 85, "methodology": "string", "limitations": ["string"]}Custom keys: /json {keys: summary, risks, recommendation}
/budget | /deep -- Extended thinking space (~500 words) showing dead ends and reasoning pivots, then clearly separated final answer.
/compare | /vs -- Compare options as table. Default dimensions: speed, accuracy, cost, complexity, maintenance. Custom: /compare [dim1, dim2].
/confidence | /conf -- Rate each claim 0-100. Flag below 70 as SPECULATIVE. Group by tier: HIGH (85+), MEDIUM (70-84), LOW (<70). Include assumptions made and rate each 1-10 on confidence.
/edge | /break -- 5+ inputs/scenarios that break the approach. Code: null/empty, concurrency, overflow, encoding, auth bypass. Strategies: market conditions, timing, dependencies. *Auto-triggers on: security, validation, parsing contexts.*
/verify-think | /check -- Three phases: (1) Answer direct response, (2) Challenge 3 ways it could be wrong, (3) Verify investigate each, update if needed. Mark final as VERIFIED ANSWER: or REVISED ANSWER:. Distinct from the /ia-verify slash command, which runs the full pre-PR verification pipeline. *Auto-triggers on: architecture decisions, critical choices, "Am I right?"*
/flip | /alt -- Identify the approach you'd take by default and state it. Then propose an alternative that uses a different mechanism (different data structure, different layer, different abstraction). State the conditions under which the alternative beats the default. Override: /flip 3 for top 3 alternatives. *Auto-triggers on: architecture decisions where the "easy" answer may break at scale.*
/assumptions | /presume -- Before answering, list every implicit assumption in the question/task. Then answer with assumptions explicit. The assumption list is often more valuable than the answer. *Auto-triggers on: architecture reviews, ambiguous requirements.*
/premortem | /postmortem -- Assume the decision/project has already failed. Work backwards: what caused the failure? List 3-5 failure modes by likelihood. Focus on systemic risks, not edge cases.
/tensions | /perspectives -- Answer from two named opposing perspectives (e.g., security engineer vs. shipping PM). Focus output on where they *disagree* -- that's where the real insight lives. Override roles: /tensions [devops, security].
Combos
/analyze = /think + /edge + /verify-think -- Code reviews, architecture, security-sensitive work. Synthesize findings into a unified recommendation -- don't just concatenate pattern outputs. *Auto-triggers on: code review requests.*
/trade = /confidence + /adversarial + /edge -- Trade ideas, position analysis, market thesis. *Auto-triggers on: trade/position discussions.*
Conventions
- Separate combined pattern outputs with
--- - Keep core answer prominent -- patterns enhance, not bury the response
- Accept new pattern definitions mid-conversation ("Add
/eli5for explain like I'm 5") -- apply for the session
Verify
- Pattern marker present in output (e.g.,
VERIFIED ANSWER:for /verify) - Core answer remains prominent -- meta-reasoning enhances, doesn't bury it