3 ChatGPT Prompts Every Developer Should Memorize

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The real power of ChatGPT lies in knowing what to ask it.

That’s why having a few prompts in your pocket can be super useful if you’re a software developer.

Programming ain’t easy, and if I can use a new AI to help me get unstuck, or reveal something I’m just not seeing, by all means—let’s ask ChatGPT.

Here are three prompts you'll find indispensable as you stare at your IDE screen.

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3 ChatGPT Prompts Every Software Developer Should Memorize

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1. "Translate this [source language] code to [target language] code:"

Working with multiple languages or transitioning code from one language to another? ChatGPT can help translate code, to give you a great starting point. 

If you find yourself migrating code, this can be your savior.  In this era of polyglot programming, where developers are often expected to switch between languages, this translation feature of ChatGPT can serve as your personal Rosetta Stone.

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2. "Generate a code snippet for [task] in [language]."

Stuck on how to write a specific function in a new language? Ask ChatGPT to generate a code snippet for you. 

This is where ChatGPT can play the role of a seasoned co-developer. Just specify your task and the language, and ChatGPT can whip up a code snippet for you.

You'll not only get your code, but also an opportunity to learn from the output. 

You get to see how the function is structured in the new language, how syntax and conventions differ, and even some best practices.

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3. "Help me optimize this [language] code:"

If you're sure a piece of code could run more efficiently but aren't certain how to optimize it, ChatGPT can help. It can analyze your code, suggest more efficient alternatives, and provide an explanation for the changes.

Efficient code is the hallmark of a great developer. Yet, optimization is a skill that takes time to master. 

This prompt is akin to having a highly experienced code reviewer at your disposal, pointing out bottlenecks, suggesting improvements, and explaining why these changes enhance performance. 

This prompt can drastically reduce the time spent on code optimization, allowing you to focus more on core development tasks while simultaneously learning better coding practices.

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No doubt you can drum up a few awesome prompts on your own, too.

These are just ones that we’ve personally found useful here at Leiga.

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The real power of ChatGPT lies in its versatility and its ability to assist with a vast array of tasks, especially agile software development. 

So remember these three, and discover some more, but definitely avail yourself to this sort of futuristic assistance.

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NOTE: The initial draft of this article was written using Chat GPT. The prompt was as follows:

Write an article for WIRED magazine called "The 3 ChatGPT prompts developers should memorize" and write the three prompts you think are most useful to software engineers.

Please write the article as if you are software developer turned tech journalist because you have a knack for explaining just how useful chatGPT can be for someone who looks at an IDE screen for a living.

If you read this far, email me at adam@leiga.com to get early access to Leiga. You deserve it.