Introduction to Prompt Refinement

Using DeepSeek and Claude for prompt refinement can significantly enhance your Manus experience by helping you craft more effective prompts that yield better results while optimizing resource usage.

Prompt refinement is the process of iteratively improving your prompts to get more accurate, relevant, and useful responses from AI systems. By leveraging the strengths of DeepSeek and Claude, you can develop prompts that are more precise, better structured, and more likely to produce the results you want when used with Manus.

This approach is particularly valuable for staying within the resource efficiency guidelines of 5-15 credits per task and under 400 credits total, as better prompts lead to more efficient use of Manus's capabilities.

DeepSeek Prompt Refinement Techniques

DeepSeek AI is particularly powerful for writing and content creation tasks. Here are key techniques for using DeepSeek to refine prompts:

Structured Prompt Format

DeepSeek responds well to highly structured prompts with clear sections:

#CONTEXT:
[Background information and role assignment]

#GOAL:
[Clear statement of what you want to achieve]

#RESPONSE GUIDELINES:
1. [Specific instruction]
2. [Specific instruction]
3. [Specific instruction]
4. [Specific instruction]

#OUTPUT:
[Format and characteristics of the desired response]

Iterative Refinement

Don't expect perfect results on the first try. Start with a clear prompt, evaluate the response, and refine your prompt based on what worked and what didn't.

  1. Start with a basic prompt
  2. Analyze the response for strengths and weaknesses
  3. Adjust your prompt to address the weaknesses
  4. Repeat until you get satisfactory results

Specific Techniques for DeepSeek

  • Role Assignment: Assign DeepSeek a specific professional role related to your task
  • Clear Parameters: Define scope, length, depth, and other relevant parameters
  • Format Specification: Clearly indicate how you want information presented
  • Example Provision: Include examples of the kind of output you're looking for

Claude Prompt Refinement Techniques

Claude excels at understanding nuanced instructions and producing thoughtful, comprehensive responses. Here are techniques for refining prompts with Claude:

Be Clear and Direct

Claude responds best to clear, direct instructions. Avoid ambiguity and use precise language to guide Claude toward the desired output.

Example:

Instead of: "Write about climate change."
Use: "Write a 500-word analysis of how climate change is affecting coastal cities, with specific examples from the past decade."

Use Examples to Illustrate

Providing examples helps Claude understand the format, style, or approach you want.

Example:

I will give you some quotes. Please extract the author from the quote block.

Here is an example:
<example>
Quote:
"When the reasoning mind is forced to confront the impossible again and again, it has no choice but to adapt."
― N.K. Jemisin, The Fifth Season
Author: N.K. Jemisin
</example>

Quote:
"Some humans theorize that intelligent species go extinct before they can expand into outer space. If they're correct, then the hush of the night sky is the silence of the graveyard."
― Ted Chiang, Exhalation
Author:

Break Down Complex Tasks

For intricate tasks, divide them into smaller, more manageable steps using chain prompts.

  1. Present each step as a separate prompt
  2. Build on previous responses
  3. Guide Claude through a logical progression

Anthropic's Recommended Techniques for Claude

  • Constitutional AI Approach: Provide guidelines or principles that should govern the response
  • XML Tags for Structure: Use XML-like tags to clearly delineate different parts of your prompt
  • System and User Messages: Separate system instructions from user queries for clarity

Combining DeepSeek and Claude for Manus Prompt Refinement

To optimize your Manus usage with DeepSeek and Claude:

  1. Use DeepSeek for Initial Prompt Creation:
    • Leverage DeepSeek's structured format to create a well-organized prompt
    • Focus on clarity, specificity, and desired output format
  2. Use Claude for Prompt Analysis and Improvement:
    • Have Claude analyze your prompt for potential improvements
    • Ask Claude to identify ambiguities or missing elements
  3. Iterative Refinement Process:
    • Start with a basic prompt
    • Use DeepSeek to structure and format it
    • Use Claude to analyze and suggest improvements
    • Refine based on feedback
    • Test the improved prompt with Manus
  4. Resource Efficiency Strategy:
    • Use DeepSeek and Claude for prompt development and testing
    • Only use Manus once you have a highly refined prompt
    • This approach minimizes Manus credit usage while maximizing results

Best Practices for Credit-Efficient Prompt Refinement

  1. Develop Prompts Externally: Create and refine prompts using DeepSeek and Claude before using them with Manus
  2. Test with Smaller Tasks: Test refined prompts on smaller, representative tasks before applying them to larger projects
  3. Document Successful Prompts: Keep a library of effective prompts for different types of tasks
  4. Analyze Credit Usage: Track which prompt structures and approaches yield the best results for the fewest credits
  5. Continuous Improvement: Regularly update your prompt techniques based on results and feedback