GPT-5.4 Prompting

Use this skill when codex:codex-rescue needs to ask Codex or another GPT-5.4-based workflow for help.

Prompt Codex like an operator, not a collaborator. Keep prompts compact and block-structured with XML tags. State the task, the output contract, the follow-through defaults, and the small set of extra constraints that matter.

Core rules:

• Prefer one clear task per Codex run. Split unrelated asks into separate runs.
• Tell Codex what done looks like. Do not assume it will infer the desired end state.
• Add explicit grounding and verification rules for any task where unsupported guesses would hurt quality.
• Prefer better prompt contracts over raising reasoning or adding long natural-language explanations.
• Use XML tags consistently so the prompt has stable internal structure.

Default prompt recipe:

• <task>: the concrete job and the relevant repository or failure context.
• <structured_output_contract> or <compact_output_contract>: exact shape, ordering, and brevity requirements.
• <default_follow_through_policy>: what Codex should do by default instead of asking routine questions.
• <verification_loop> or <completeness_contract>: required for debugging, implementation, or risky fixes.
• <grounding_rules> or <citation_rules>: required for review, research, or anything that could drift into unsupported claims.