AI Prompt Layer

AI Prompt Layer helps developers save, reuse, and insert high-quality prompts quickly inside VS Code/Cursor.

This page focuses on how developers use it day-to-day.

New options included

• Primary sidebar action is now Create Prompt (prioritized, highlighted button).
• Save selected editor text directly into Prompt Layer.
• Create prompt drafts even with missing name/template (edit later).
• More command shortcuts for faster workflows.
• Easier filter controls in sidebar (scope/tag/sort + reset).

How Developers Use It

1) Open Prompt Layer

• Open the Prompt Layer icon from the Activity Bar.
• Use tabs:
  • Library: all prompts
  • Templates: reusable prompt patterns
  • Rules: project standards
  • Recent: last used prompts
  • Search: focused lookup

2) Create reusable prompts

• Click Create Prompt in the sidebar.
• Fill a single form:
  • name, description, template
  • tags, scope (workspace or global)
  • file-type hints
• Use variables in template (example: {fileName}, {functionName}, {ticketId}).
• You can save without name/template; the extension creates sensible draft defaults you can edit later.

2.1) Save selected text as a prompt

• Select any text in editor.
• Right-click and choose Save Selection as Prompt.
• Or use shortcut Ctrl+Alt+S.
• The selected text is prefilled as template and can be edited before save.

3) Insert prompts fast

• From prompt cards: click Insert
• From editor context menu: Insert Prompt
• From command palette: search Prompt Layer commands
• Use quick insert best match for speed

4) Keep workflows consistent

• Add tags and rules so generated prompts stay aligned with team practices.
• Use favorites and pinning for commonly used prompts.
• Use recents to repeat recent workflows.
• Use Reset in the toolbar to quickly clear active filters.

5) Share with team

• Export prompt packs to JSON.
• Import prompt packs into other projects.
• Restore previous prompt versions when needed.

Commands

• Prompt Layer: Open Library
• Prompt Layer: Insert Prompt
• Prompt Layer: Insert Last Used Prompt
• Prompt Layer: Quick Insert Best Match
• Prompt Layer: Create Prompt
• Prompt Layer: Save Selection as Prompt
• Prompt Layer: Edit Prompt
• Prompt Layer: Delete Prompt
• Prompt Layer: Duplicate Prompt
• Prompt Layer: Toggle Favorite
• Prompt Layer: Toggle Pin
• Prompt Layer: Export Prompts
• Prompt Layer: Import Prompts
• Prompt Layer: Restore Prompt Version

Shortcuts

Editor shortcuts

• Ctrl+Alt+F: Insert Prompt
• Ctrl+Alt+P: Insert Last Used Prompt
• Ctrl+Alt+I: Quick Insert Best Match
• Ctrl+Alt+N: Create Prompt
• Ctrl+Alt+S: Save Selection as Prompt (when text is selected)

Sidebar keyboard shortcuts

• Ctrl+K: Focus search
• Alt+J: Focus first prompt card
• ArrowUp / ArrowDown: Navigate cards
• Enter / Space: Insert focused prompt
• E: Edit focused prompt
• Delete: Delete focused prompt
• ?: Open keyboard help
• Esc: Close keyboard help

Developer Tips

• Keep prompt templates short and composable.
• Prefer tags by domain (e.g. api, frontend, tests, refactor).
• Set rules for file types to enforce coding standards automatically.
• Pin 3-5 most common prompts for faster daily usage.

Key Settings

• promptLayer.defaultInsertMode: insert to editor or clipboard
• promptLayer.maxRecentPrompts: size of recent prompt history
• promptLayer.showInsertPreview: confirm before insertion