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Prompting LLMs to write RFCs exposes unknowns before generating implementation code
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The author found that asking LLMs to write RFCs about a problem, rather than immediately solving it, forces better understanding and highlights unknowns before coding.
When developers use LLMs to speed through complex problems they do not fully understand, they risk generating flawed code without realizing it. Shifting the prompt from solving a problem to writing an RFC forces the model to explain the problem and alternatives, making gaps in understanding visible. This approach reduces the cycle of generating and discarding bad code by prioritizing comprehension over immediate output.
Written by elseif from the cluster below · every claim links back to a sourceThe three things worth knowing
Asking LLMs to solve problems directly often results in immediate but poorly understood solutions.
Prompting an LLM to write an RFC shifts the focus to understanding the problem and evaluating alternatives.
Iterating on RFCs exposes unknowns and forces the developer to confront what they do not understand before coding.
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