Improve Prompt

Improve the prompt given in $ARGUMENTS with a single-pass rewrite. This is the manual, deep counterpart to the automatic per-message improver hook (.claude/helpers/prompt-improver.cjs).

Steps

1. Resolve the input. If $ARGUMENTS is a file path, Read the file and locate the prompt inside it (a prompt constant, template string, system-prompt field, or the whole file for SKILL.md/agent definitions). Otherwise treat $ARGUMENTS itself as the prompt. If it's empty, ask the user to paste a prompt or name a file.

2. Rewrite the prompt applying this checklist — change only what improves it, and preserve the author's intent exactly:

   • Clear role/persona up front when the prompt defines an assistant's behavior
   • Explicit goal and expected output format (structure, length, JSON schema if applicable)
   • XML-tagged sections (<instructions>, <context>, <examples>, <output_format>) when the prompt mixes instructions with data or context
   • Concrete examples (few-shot) where behavior is otherwise underspecified
   • Constraints stated positively ("do X") rather than as long "don't" lists
   • Ambiguities resolved or surfaced — if intent is unclear, state the assumption inline rather than guessing silently
   • Template variables clearly delimited and documented
   • Dead weight removed: filler, duplicate instructions, hedging

3. Present the result as:

   • The improved prompt in a fenced block
   • A table of changes: what changed → why it helps

4. If the prompt came from a file, offer to apply the improved version with an Edit — do not modify the file without confirmation.