---
name: ceratops-prompt-optimizer
description: Transform raw, simple, vague, or under-specified prompts into clearer structured prompts without changing intent or answering the prompt.
---

# Ceratops Prompt Optimizer

## Goal

Rewrite the user's raw prompt into a concise, structured prompt that is easier for an AI system to execute while preserving the original intent.

## Context

### Inputs To Capture

- The raw prompt, target audience, expected deliverable, and explicit constraints.
- Terminology, placeholders, variables, examples, and strict requirements that must be preserved.
- Missing context that can be filled with a safe default without narrowing the user's intent.

Ask for the missing raw prompt only when none was provided.

## Constraints

### Skill-Specific Rules

- Do not answer the raw prompt; rewrite it.
- Do not change the target task, intent, audience, output target, terminology, placeholders, variables, examples, or strict constraints.
- Add only assumptions or defaults that reduce execution ambiguity.
- Convert emotional emphasis, repeated wording, and vague pressure into observable behavior.
- Prefer concrete actions, evidence, checks, triggers, format requirements, and exclusions over adjectives such as "carefully", "thoroughly", or "properly".
- Do not weaken safety, review, testing, security, or `do not` requirements.
- Add a creativity section only when it improves the task; omit it when creativity would distract.
- If the raw prompt is already strong, make only a light improvement.

### Boundaries

- Use this skill for prompt rewrites, prompt templates, and prompt-clarity improvements.
- If the requested change is to a durable rule or instruction file, use `$ceratops-produce-rule-update`.
- If the requested change is to a skill workflow, use `$ceratops-skill-optimize`.

### Workflow

1. Identify the real objective, audience, deliverable, constraints, and exclusions.
2. Preserve strict wording where changing it would alter intent.
3. Add small missing pieces only when they reduce ambiguity.
4. Structure the prompt with role, goal, constraints, and output format when that helps.
5. Remove filler, duplication, motivational wording, and unnecessary verbosity.

## Done When

### Completion Gate

- The optimized prompt preserves the original task and strict constraints.
- The optimized prompt is directly usable as a prompt.
- The response does not include explanation unless the user asked for it.

### Output Contract

Return only the optimized prompt unless the user asks for explanation.