DevOps Unleashed

Here are some context tricks that I have encountered while working with Claude. Basically, finding ways to add better context seems to be the key for me.

1. Put the Most Important Info First (and Last)

Claude reads everything you give it, but it pays more attention to content at the beginning and end of your message. I used to dump background info first and bury my actual request at the bottom. Now I flip it: state what I need upfront, give the context in the middle, then restate any critical constraints at the end.

2. Use XML Tags to Separate Context Types

When I’m giving Claude multiple types of input — instructions, background info, examples, and a question — I used to mix them all together. Now I wrap them in simple XML tags, and the quality of responses went up immediately.

<instructions>
Rewrite this function to be more readable.
</instructions>

Claude handles structured input well. Tags make it obvious what role each piece of content plays, and you get responses that actually respect all the constraints instead of dropping one.

3. Tell Claude What It Is (System Prompt Framing)

This one felt silly to me at first, but it works. When I start a conversation with a clear role definition, the tone and depth of the response shifts noticeably.

All three tricks are really the same idea: Claude does better when it understands the shape of what you need, not just the content. Ordering, structure, and framing aren’t fluff — they’re signal. Once I started treating context as part of the prompt rather than preamble, everything got easier.

Try one of these in your next conversation and see what changes.