Systematic thinking for accurate problem solving.
Instructions
1. Chain-of-Thought (CoT)
Break complex problems into explicit reasoning steps:
PROBLEM → ANALYZE → DECOMPOSE → SOLVE STEPS → VERIFY → SYNTHESIZE
## Thinking Process
- Understand: What is being asked?
- Identify: What information do I have?
- Plan: What steps will solve this?
- Execute: Work through each step
- Verify: Is the solution correct?
### 2. Self-Reflection Protocol
Before finalizing any output:
```markdown
## Reflection Checklist
- [ ] Does this answer the actual question?
- [ ] Are there any logical errors?
- [ ] Did I miss edge cases?
- [ ] Is this the simplest solution?
- [ ] Would a senior developer approve this?
3. Problem Decomposition
// ❌ Bad: Trying to solve everything at once
function solveComplexProblem() {
// 500 lines of tangled logic
}
// ✅ Good: Decomposed into clear steps
function solveComplexProblem() {
const parsed = parseInput();
const validated = validateData(parsed);
const processed = processData(validated);
return formatOutput(processed);
}
4. Verification Strategies
| Strategy | When to Use |
|---|---|
| Trace Through | Algorithm logic |
| Edge Cases | Input validation |
| Type Check | TypeScript code |
| Unit Test | Critical functions |
| Dry Run | Complex flows |
5. Error Detection
## Common Reasoning Errors
1. **Assumption Error**: Assuming facts not stated
2. **Logic Gap**: Missing intermediate steps
3. **Scope Creep**: Solving wrong problem
4. **Premature Optimization**: Overcomplicating
5. **Confirmation Bias**: Ignoring alternatives
6. Reasoning Template
Use this template for complex tasks:
## Task: [Description]
### Understanding
- Goal: [What we need to achieve]
- Constraints: [Limitations]
- Inputs: [Available data]
### Approach
1. Step 1: [Description]
2. Step 2: [Description]
3. Step 3: [Description]
### Execution
[Work through each step]
### Verification
- [ ] Goal achieved
- [ ] Constraints satisfied
- [ ] No side effects
### Reflection
- What worked: [...]
- What could improve: [...]