MCP & Copilot Studio Learning Project

# Day 4: Prompts - Smart Templates & Context-Aware Assistance Welcome to Day 4 of your MCP learning journey! Today you'll master prompt creation and dynamic template generation. ## 🎯 What You'll Build Today ### 5 Powerful Prompt Templates: 1. **🔍 Code Review Assistant** - Language-specific analysis frameworks - Customizable focus areas (performance, security, readability) - Complexity-aware feedback (simple to expert level) 2. **✍️ Writing Helper** - Style-aware content enhancement (professional, casual, academic) - Audience-targeted improvements - Purpose-driven writing assistance 3. **📋 Meeting Summarizer** - Meeting type templates (standup, planning, retrospective) - Structured documentation formats - Action item tracking and follow-up 4. **🎓 Learning Tutor** - Adaptive learning based on skill level - Learning style customization (visual, auditory, kinesthetic) - Goal-oriented educational guidance 5. **📊 Project Planner** - Context-specific planning frameworks - Timeline and resource management - Strategic execution templates ## 📁 Files in This Directory - **`index-starter.ts`** - Your starting point with TODO comments and extensive bonus helpers - **`index-complete.ts`** - Complete reference implementation with all 5 prompts - **`README.md`** - This file ## 🚀 How to Use These Files ### For the Basic Exercise: 1. Copy `index-starter.ts` to `src/index.ts` 2. Follow the step-by-step instructions in `exercises/day-4-prompts.md` 3. Implement each prompt handler using the provided frameworks 4. Test each prompt with different argument combinations ### For Bonus Challenges: - Uncomment the advanced helper functions in the starter file - Implement template variable substitution - Add prompt history and favorites management - Create smart prompt suggestion system ### If You Get Stuck: - Compare your implementation with `index-complete.ts` - Check the exercise file for detailed code examples - Test individual prompts step by step ## 🔧 Key Learning Concepts ### Prompt Structure: ```typescript // Basic prompt definition { name: 'prompt-name', description: 'What this prompt does', arguments: [ { name: 'param1', description: 'Parameter description', required: true, } ] } ``` ### Dynamic Content Generation: ```typescript // Context-aware prompt generation const prompt = `# ${title} **Context**: ${context} **Goal**: ${goal} ## Framework ${generateFramework(context, complexity)} ## Content ${content} Please ${action} following this framework.`; ``` ### Argument Validation: ```typescript // Robust input validation const ParamsSchema = z.object({ style: z.enum(['professional', 'casual', 'academic']), content: z.string().min(1, "Content is required"), audience: z.string().min(1, "Audience is required"), }); ``` ## 🧪 Testing Your Prompts ### In Interactive Mode: ```bash node interactive-test.js ``` ### In Claude Desktop: Try these prompt requests: - "Use the code-review prompt for TypeScript code focusing on performance" - "Generate a writing-helper prompt for professional email to executives" - "Create a meeting-summary template for sprint planning session" - "Use learning-tutor for intermediate JavaScript async/await concepts" - "Generate project-planner for software development with 6-month timeline" ### Advanced Testing: - "Preview the code-review prompt with sample arguments" - "List all available prompt categories" - "Show me writing-helper options for different audiences" ## 🎯 Success Criteria By the end of Day 4, you should have: - ✅ 5 working prompt templates with different purposes - ✅ Dynamic argument-based content generation - ✅ Context-aware prompt customization - ✅ Proper argument validation and error handling - ✅ Management tools for prompt organization - ✅ Understanding of prompt design patterns ## 🌟 Understanding Prompts vs Tools vs Resources ### **Prompts** (Day 4): - **Purpose**: Template generation for Claude - **When to use**: Creating structured instructions, frameworks, templates - **Example**: "Generate a code review framework for Python focusing on security" ### **Tools** (Days 1-2): - **Purpose**: Execute actions and return results - **When to use**: Performing calculations, analysis, data processing - **Example**: "Calculate 15 × 8" → Returns "120" ### **Resources** (Day 3): - **Purpose**: Provide readable data and information - **When to use**: Storing documentation, configuration, reference material - **Example**: "Read project documentation" → Returns file content ## 🚀 What's Next? **Day 5** will introduce: - 🌐 **API Integration** - Connect to real-world data sources - 🔐 **Authentication** - Secure API key management - ⚡ **Caching** - Performance optimization for external calls - 🔄 **Error Handling** - Robust network and API error management Learn to build MCP servers that connect with external services and provide real-time data to Claude! --- *Ready to create intelligent prompt templates? Start with the exercise file and let's build some smart assistance systems!*