Claude’s first solution is often functional but not great. Targeted follow-up prompts push it to do better.
Power Prompts
After a mediocre solution:
Knowing everything you know now about this codebase,
implement the elegant solution.Before merging:
Grill me on these changes and don't make a PR
until I pass your test.For thorough comparison:
Compare the behavior between main and this branch.
Show me every difference in output, edge cases, and
error handling.For self-critique:
Review your own changes as a staff engineer would.
What would you push back on?Why This Works
Claude tends to produce safe, conventional solutions on the first pass. When you challenge it, Claude:
- Re-evaluates decisions it made quickly
- Considers alternatives it initially dismissed
- Applies higher standards to code quality
- Catches edge cases it skipped
Two-Claude Review
For critical work, run two Claude sessions. Have one draft a plan, then ask a second to review it “as a staff engineer.” The reviewer often catches issues the implementer missed because it evaluates the plan with fresh context.