🚀 Better Prompt
Transform messy ideas into structured, high-quality prompts — instantly.
⚡ Built for developers • 🧠 Optimized for LLMs • 🔌 Native to VS Code
✨ What is Better Prompt?
Better Prompt is a VS Code extension that takes your rough, unclear prompts and turns them into clean, structured, and reusable instructions.
No more guessing what to write. No more trial-and-error prompting.
Just write what you mean — Better Prompt handles the rest.
🎯 Why Use It?
- 🧠 Get better AI outputs with zero prompt engineering effort
- ⚡ Stay inside VS Code — no context switching
- 🔁 Generate multiple prompt variations instantly
- 🛡️ Always works — even without API (fallback mode)
- 📊 Transparent output (know when API vs fallback is used)
🛣️ 3 Ways to Use Better Prompt
| Route |
Best For |
Output |
| 🟢 Refine |
Quick fixes |
1 improved prompt |
| 🔵 Variants |
Exploration |
3 alternatives |
| 🟣 Chat |
Flow usage |
3 conversational outputs |
🧭 How It Works (At a Glance)
flowchart LR
A[Write Draft Prompt] --> B[Choose Route]
B --> C[Refine One]
B --> D[Get Variants]
B --> E[Copilot Chat]
C --> F[Processing Engine]
D --> F
E --> F
F --> G{API Available?}
G -->|Yes| H[Use External Model]
G -->|No| I[Use Local Logic]
H --> J[Final Output]
I --> J
J --> K[Show Result]
🚀 Usage
🟢 1. Refine a Single Prompt
Best for: quick improvements
#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-dm0ehcn{font-family:"trebuchet ms",verdana,arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;fill:#ccc;}@keyframes edge-animation-frame{from{stroke-dashoffset:0;}}@keyframes dash{to{stroke-dashoffset:0;}}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-dm0ehcn .edge-animation-slow{stroke-dasharray:9,5!important;stroke-dashoffset:900;animation:dash 50s linear infinite;stroke-linecap:round;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-dm0ehcn .edge-animation-fast{stroke-dasharray:9,5!important;stroke-dashoffset:900;animation:dash 20s linear infinite;stroke-linecap:round;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-dm0ehcn .error-icon{fill:#a44141;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-dm0ehcn .error-text{fill:#ddd;stroke:#ddd;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-dm0ehcn .edge-thickness-normal{stroke-width:1px;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-dm0ehcn .edge-thickness-thick{stroke-width:3.5px;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-dm0ehcn .edge-pattern-solid{stroke-dasharray:0;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-dm0ehcn .edge-thickness-invisible{stroke-width:0;fill:none;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-dm0ehcn .edge-pattern-dashed{stroke-dasharray:3;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-dm0ehcn .edge-pattern-dotted{stroke-dasharray:2;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-dm0ehcn .marker{fill:lightgrey;stroke:lightgrey;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-dm0ehcn .marker.cross{stroke:lightgrey;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-dm0ehcn svg{font-family:"trebuchet ms",verdana,arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-dm0ehcn p{margin:0;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-dm0ehcn .label{font-family:"trebuchet ms",verdana,arial,sans-serif;color:#ccc;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-dm0ehcn .cluster-label text{fill:#F9FFFE;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-dm0ehcn .cluster-label span{color:#F9FFFE;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-dm0ehcn .cluster-label span p{background-color:transparent;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-dm0ehcn .label text,#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-dm0ehcn span{fill:#ccc;color:#ccc;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-dm0ehcn .node rect,#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-dm0ehcn .node circle,#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-dm0ehcn .node ellipse,#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-dm0ehcn .node polygon,#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-dm0ehcn .node path{fill:#1f2020;stroke:#ccc;stroke-width:1px;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-dm0ehcn .rough-node .label text,#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-dm0ehcn .node .label text,#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-dm0ehcn .image-shape .label,#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-dm0ehcn .icon-shape .label{text-anchor:middle;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-dm0ehcn .node .katex path{fill:#000;stroke:#000;stroke-width:1px;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-dm0ehcn .rough-node .label,#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-dm0ehcn .node .label,#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-dm0ehcn .image-shape .label,#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-dm0ehcn .icon-shape .label{text-align:center;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-dm0ehcn .node.clickable{cursor:pointer;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-dm0ehcn .root .anchor path{fill:lightgrey!important;stroke-width:0;stroke:lightgrey;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-dm0ehcn .arrowheadPath{fill:lightgrey;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-dm0ehcn .edgePath .path{stroke:lightgrey;stroke-width:2.0px;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-dm0ehcn .flowchart-link{stroke:lightgrey;fill:none;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-dm0ehcn .edgeLabel{background-color:hsl(0, 0%, 34.4117647059%);text-align:center;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-dm0ehcn .edgeLabel p{background-color:hsl(0, 0%, 34.4117647059%);}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-dm0ehcn .edgeLabel rect{opacity:0.5;background-color:hsl(0, 0%, 34.4117647059%);fill:hsl(0, 0%, 34.4117647059%);}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-dm0ehcn .labelBkg{background-color:rgba(87.75, 87.75, 87.75, 0.5);}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-dm0ehcn .cluster rect{fill:hsl(180, 1.5873015873%, 28.3529411765%);stroke:rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.25);stroke-width:1px;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-dm0ehcn .cluster text{fill:#F9FFFE;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-dm0ehcn .cluster span{color:#F9FFFE;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-dm0ehcn div.mermaidTooltip{position:absolute;text-align:center;max-width:200px;padding:2px;font-family:"trebuchet ms",verdana,arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;background:hsl(20, 1.5873015873%, 12.3529411765%);border:1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.25);border-radius:2px;pointer-events:none;z-index:100;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-dm0ehcn .flowchartTitleText{text-anchor:middle;font-size:18px;fill:#ccc;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-dm0ehcn rect.text{fill:none;stroke-width:0;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-dm0ehcn .icon-shape,#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-dm0ehcn .image-shape{background-color:hsl(0, 0%, 34.4117647059%);text-align:center;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-dm0ehcn .icon-shape p,#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-dm0ehcn .image-shape p{background-color:hsl(0, 0%, 34.4117647059%);padding:2px;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-dm0ehcn .icon-shape rect,#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-dm0ehcn .image-shape rect{opacity:0.5;background-color:hsl(0, 0%, 34.4117647059%);fill:hsl(0, 0%, 34.4117647059%);}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-dm0ehcn :root{--mermaid-font-family:"trebuchet ms",verdana,arial,sans-serif;}Run CommandEnter / Select TextRefine PromptGet Clean Output
How to use:
Press Ctrl + Shift + Q → Better Prompt: Refine Prompt
Or: Select text → Right-click → Refine
🔵 2. Generate 3 Variants (Side Panel)
Best for: comparing styles
#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-m45da2n{font-family:"trebuchet ms",verdana,arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;fill:#ccc;}@keyframes edge-animation-frame{from{stroke-dashoffset:0;}}@keyframes dash{to{stroke-dashoffset:0;}}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-m45da2n .edge-animation-slow{stroke-dasharray:9,5!important;stroke-dashoffset:900;animation:dash 50s linear infinite;stroke-linecap:round;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-m45da2n .edge-animation-fast{stroke-dasharray:9,5!important;stroke-dashoffset:900;animation:dash 20s linear infinite;stroke-linecap:round;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-m45da2n .error-icon{fill:#a44141;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-m45da2n .error-text{fill:#ddd;stroke:#ddd;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-m45da2n .edge-thickness-normal{stroke-width:1px;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-m45da2n .edge-thickness-thick{stroke-width:3.5px;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-m45da2n .edge-pattern-solid{stroke-dasharray:0;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-m45da2n .edge-thickness-invisible{stroke-width:0;fill:none;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-m45da2n .edge-pattern-dashed{stroke-dasharray:3;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-m45da2n .edge-pattern-dotted{stroke-dasharray:2;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-m45da2n .marker{fill:lightgrey;stroke:lightgrey;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-m45da2n .marker.cross{stroke:lightgrey;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-m45da2n svg{font-family:"trebuchet ms",verdana,arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-m45da2n p{margin:0;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-m45da2n .label{font-family:"trebuchet ms",verdana,arial,sans-serif;color:#ccc;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-m45da2n .cluster-label text{fill:#F9FFFE;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-m45da2n .cluster-label span{color:#F9FFFE;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-m45da2n .cluster-label span p{background-color:transparent;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-m45da2n .label text,#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-m45da2n span{fill:#ccc;color:#ccc;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-m45da2n .node rect,#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-m45da2n .node circle,#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-m45da2n .node ellipse,#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-m45da2n .node polygon,#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-m45da2n .node path{fill:#1f2020;stroke:#ccc;stroke-width:1px;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-m45da2n .rough-node .label text,#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-m45da2n .node .label text,#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-m45da2n .image-shape .label,#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-m45da2n .icon-shape .label{text-anchor:middle;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-m45da2n .node .katex path{fill:#000;stroke:#000;stroke-width:1px;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-m45da2n .rough-node .label,#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-m45da2n .node .label,#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-m45da2n .image-shape .label,#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-m45da2n .icon-shape .label{text-align:center;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-m45da2n .node.clickable{cursor:pointer;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-m45da2n .root .anchor path{fill:lightgrey!important;stroke-width:0;stroke:lightgrey;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-m45da2n .arrowheadPath{fill:lightgrey;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-m45da2n .edgePath .path{stroke:lightgrey;stroke-width:2.0px;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-m45da2n .flowchart-link{stroke:lightgrey;fill:none;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-m45da2n .edgeLabel{background-color:hsl(0, 0%, 34.4117647059%);text-align:center;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-m45da2n .edgeLabel p{background-color:hsl(0, 0%, 34.4117647059%);}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-m45da2n .edgeLabel rect{opacity:0.5;background-color:hsl(0, 0%, 34.4117647059%);fill:hsl(0, 0%, 34.4117647059%);}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-m45da2n .labelBkg{background-color:rgba(87.75, 87.75, 87.75, 0.5);}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-m45da2n .cluster rect{fill:hsl(180, 1.5873015873%, 28.3529411765%);stroke:rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.25);stroke-width:1px;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-m45da2n .cluster text{fill:#F9FFFE;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-m45da2n .cluster span{color:#F9FFFE;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-m45da2n div.mermaidTooltip{position:absolute;text-align:center;max-width:200px;padding:2px;font-family:"trebuchet ms",verdana,arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;background:hsl(20, 1.5873015873%, 12.3529411765%);border:1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.25);border-radius:2px;pointer-events:none;z-index:100;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-m45da2n .flowchartTitleText{text-anchor:middle;font-size:18px;fill:#ccc;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-m45da2n rect.text{fill:none;stroke-width:0;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-m45da2n .icon-shape,#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-m45da2n .image-shape{background-color:hsl(0, 0%, 34.4117647059%);text-align:center;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-m45da2n .icon-shape p,#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-m45da2n .image-shape p{background-color:hsl(0, 0%, 34.4117647059%);padding:2px;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-m45da2n .icon-shape rect,#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-m45da2n .image-shape rect{opacity:0.5;background-color:hsl(0, 0%, 34.4117647059%);fill:hsl(0, 0%, 34.4117647059%);}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-m45da2n :root{--mermaid-font-family:"trebuchet ms",verdana,arial,sans-serif;}Select TextGenerate 3 OptionsView in PanelCopy Best One
How to use:
Select your draft
Run: Show Suggestions in Side Panel
Pick the best version
🟣 3. Use Inside Copilot Chat
Best for: real-time workflows
#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-xlh7w8q{font-family:"trebuchet ms",verdana,arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;fill:#ccc;}@keyframes edge-animation-frame{from{stroke-dashoffset:0;}}@keyframes dash{to{stroke-dashoffset:0;}}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-xlh7w8q .edge-animation-slow{stroke-dasharray:9,5!important;stroke-dashoffset:900;animation:dash 50s linear infinite;stroke-linecap:round;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-xlh7w8q .edge-animation-fast{stroke-dasharray:9,5!important;stroke-dashoffset:900;animation:dash 20s linear infinite;stroke-linecap:round;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-xlh7w8q .error-icon{fill:#a44141;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-xlh7w8q .error-text{fill:#ddd;stroke:#ddd;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-xlh7w8q .edge-thickness-normal{stroke-width:1px;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-xlh7w8q .edge-thickness-thick{stroke-width:3.5px;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-xlh7w8q .edge-pattern-solid{stroke-dasharray:0;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-xlh7w8q .edge-thickness-invisible{stroke-width:0;fill:none;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-xlh7w8q .edge-pattern-dashed{stroke-dasharray:3;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-xlh7w8q .edge-pattern-dotted{stroke-dasharray:2;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-xlh7w8q .marker{fill:lightgrey;stroke:lightgrey;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-xlh7w8q .marker.cross{stroke:lightgrey;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-xlh7w8q svg{font-family:"trebuchet ms",verdana,arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-xlh7w8q p{margin:0;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-xlh7w8q .label{font-family:"trebuchet ms",verdana,arial,sans-serif;color:#ccc;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-xlh7w8q .cluster-label text{fill:#F9FFFE;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-xlh7w8q .cluster-label span{color:#F9FFFE;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-xlh7w8q .cluster-label span p{background-color:transparent;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-xlh7w8q .label text,#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-xlh7w8q span{fill:#ccc;color:#ccc;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-xlh7w8q .node rect,#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-xlh7w8q .node circle,#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-xlh7w8q .node ellipse,#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-xlh7w8q .node polygon,#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-xlh7w8q .node path{fill:#1f2020;stroke:#ccc;stroke-width:1px;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-xlh7w8q .rough-node .label text,#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-xlh7w8q .node .label text,#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-xlh7w8q .image-shape .label,#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-xlh7w8q .icon-shape .label{text-anchor:middle;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-xlh7w8q .node .katex path{fill:#000;stroke:#000;stroke-width:1px;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-xlh7w8q .rough-node .label,#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-xlh7w8q .node .label,#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-xlh7w8q .image-shape .label,#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-xlh7w8q .icon-shape .label{text-align:center;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-xlh7w8q .node.clickable{cursor:pointer;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-xlh7w8q .root .anchor path{fill:lightgrey!important;stroke-width:0;stroke:lightgrey;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-xlh7w8q .arrowheadPath{fill:lightgrey;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-xlh7w8q .edgePath .path{stroke:lightgrey;stroke-width:2.0px;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-xlh7w8q .flowchart-link{stroke:lightgrey;fill:none;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-xlh7w8q .edgeLabel{background-color:hsl(0, 0%, 34.4117647059%);text-align:center;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-xlh7w8q .edgeLabel p{background-color:hsl(0, 0%, 34.4117647059%);}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-xlh7w8q .edgeLabel rect{opacity:0.5;background-color:hsl(0, 0%, 34.4117647059%);fill:hsl(0, 0%, 34.4117647059%);}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-xlh7w8q .labelBkg{background-color:rgba(87.75, 87.75, 87.75, 0.5);}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-xlh7w8q .cluster rect{fill:hsl(180, 1.5873015873%, 28.3529411765%);stroke:rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.25);stroke-width:1px;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-xlh7w8q .cluster text{fill:#F9FFFE;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-xlh7w8q .cluster span{color:#F9FFFE;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-xlh7w8q div.mermaidTooltip{position:absolute;text-align:center;max-width:200px;padding:2px;font-family:"trebuchet ms",verdana,arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;background:hsl(20, 1.5873015873%, 12.3529411765%);border:1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.25);border-radius:2px;pointer-events:none;z-index:100;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-xlh7w8q .flowchartTitleText{text-anchor:middle;font-size:18px;fill:#ccc;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-xlh7w8q rect.text{fill:none;stroke-width:0;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-xlh7w8q .icon-shape,#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-xlh7w8q .image-shape{background-color:hsl(0, 0%, 34.4117647059%);text-align:center;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-xlh7w8q .icon-shape p,#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-xlh7w8q .image-shape p{background-color:hsl(0, 0%, 34.4117647059%);padding:2px;}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-xlh7w8q .icon-shape rect,#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-xlh7w8q .image-shape rect{opacity:0.5;background-color:hsl(0, 0%, 34.4117647059%);fill:hsl(0, 0%, 34.4117647059%);}#mermaid-diagram-mermaid-xlh7w8q :root{--mermaid-font-family:"trebuchet ms",verdana,arial,sans-serif;}Type /bp CommandGenerate VariantsShow in ChatCopy & Use
Example:
text/bp i want better prompt for api design
⚙️ Smart Processing Engine
Better Prompt automatically decides how to generate your output:
✅ Uses external model (if configured)
🔁 Falls back to local logic (if API fails)
You always get a result — no failures.
📦 Installation
From VS Code Marketplace
Open VS Code
Go to the Extensions view
Search for Better Prompt
Click Install
From VSIX
Open Extensions view
Click the ... menu → Install from VSIX
Select your .vsix file
📚 Commands
CommandWhat it doesRefine PromptImprove manual inputRefine Selected TextImprove selected contentRefine + Copy Active PromptOne-step refine + copyShow Suggestions in Side PanelGenerate 3 variantsOpen Prompt DraftGuided prompt writingRefresh SuggestionsReload panel
⚙️ Configuration
JSON{
"betterPrompt.defaultTone": "professional",
"betterPrompt.copyToClipboard": true,
"betterPrompt.showOnboardingOnFirstRun": true,
"betterPrompt.useExternalModel": false,
"betterPrompt.externalModelApiKey": "",
"betterPrompt.externalModelBaseUrl": "https://api.openai.com/v1",
"betterPrompt.externalModel": "gpt-4.1-mini",
"betterPrompt.externalModelTimeoutMs": 20000
}
🛠️ Development
Bashnpm run compile
npm run package
To run locally: Press F5 in VS Code.
🤝 Contributing
PRs and ideas are welcome!
📄 License
MIT License
💡 Final Thought
Writing good prompts shouldn’t be a skill barrier.
Better Prompt makes it automatic.
