Claude Code Tip #4: Show the Input Format

Key Takeaways

A lot of low-quality output comes from one missing thing. Nobody defines success. If done is vague, Claude has no real stopping point. It will give you sometimes a plausible result, but not necessarily complete. So, spell it out. Done means the test have passed. Done means the button renders correctly on mobile. Done means the error toast appears and no API shape changes. When you define success in a measurable way, the model has a finish line it can aim for instead of guessing when to stop. Clear completion criteria make everything better. Planning, implementation, testing, and review.