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Prompting guide: writing effective prompts in Niles

Niles is built to turn your ideas into fully working apps—fast. All you need is a clear description of what you want, and Niles does the heavy lifting. No jargon, no setup headaches, just a prompt and a spark.

The Four Keys to a Great Prompt

  1. Be clear and specific
    Say who the app is for, what it should do, and the essentials.
    Example: “An app to help fitness coaches manage clients’ workout plans and track weekly progress.”
  2. Describe the journey
    Outline how users move through your app: sign in, create, track, share. The more intuitive your flow, the smoother Niles builds it.
  3. Focus on what, not how
    Tell Niles what you want—features, style, vibe—and it handles the code, backend, and logic.
  4. Iterate and refine
    Start broad, then layer in details. Each tweak sharpens your app closer to your vision.

Prompt Blueprints

  • Who / What / Why
    WHO: Independent consultants
    WHAT: Manage clients, contracts, deadlines in one dashboard
    WHY: Stay organized and never miss a milestone
  • User Story
    “As a freelance designer, I want to send branded invoices and track payments so I can stay on top of my cash flow.”
  • Feature List
    I’d like to add:
    • Lead tracker
    • Outreach funnel (new → contacted → interested → closed)
    • Notes & reminders per lead

Niles Power Prompts

Prompt StyleUse CaseExample
“Make it more…” / “Make it less…”Adjust tone & layout“Make the call-to-action bolder because it’s the final step users take.”
“Add a…” / “Remove the…”Add or remove features“Add a comment section under each task.”
“Change [this] to [that]”Rename or redesign“Change ‘Submit’ to ‘Send Request’ to match our friendly voice.”
“It should feel like…”Style & vibe“Like a mashup of Duolingo’s fun with Notion’s clean design.”
“Add logic for…”Smart behaviors“Send a reminder if a user hasn’t logged in for 3 days.”
“Group or organize…”Structure“Group tasks by category so users can find them faster.”
“Let users…”Empower features“Let users upload documents and tag them for easy search.”

Build in Layers

  1. Start simple:
    “A habit tracker with streaks and reminders.”
  2. Add depth:
    “Now group habits into themes like Health and Productivity.”
  3. Refine the vibe:
    “Use color-coded cards and playful emojis.”

Quick Niles Checklist

  • Don’t overthink your first prompt—just start.
  • Add context: say why it matters.
  • Use “feels like…” to reference apps you love.
  • Keep it natural. Just talk to Niles.

When You Get Stuck

  • Try rewording with more context.
  • Check the Prompt Library for examples.
  • Or brainstorm in Discuss Mode before locking changes.

TL;DR

With Niles, you describe the idea. Niles builds the app. You refine, layer, and launch—faster than you ever thought possible.