Quick Context Patterns for Small Tasks
beginner 5 min 📋 Copy-paste ready
Sources verified Dec 27, 2025
Scenario
Context: You have a small task that doesn't warrant a full spec file but needs more context than a bare prompt
Goal: Learn three quick context patterns that work for 30-minute to 2-hour tasks
Anti-pattern: Either giving no context (and getting generic code) or over-documenting (and wasting time)
Tools: Any AI coding assistant
Key Takeaways
- One-liner pattern: '[Action]. Stack: [X]. File: [Y]. Constraint: [Z]'
- Context block pattern: Fenced ```context block with key:value pairs
- Mini-spec pattern: Goal + numbered steps + done-when criteria
- Upgrade to full spec when task spans sessions or is high-stakes
- Quick patterns save time without sacrificing context quality
Try It Yourself
Prompt Template
For your next small task, try:
**One-liner:**
[Action]. Stack: [X]. File: [Y]. Constraint: [Z]
**Context block:**
```context
Project: [name]
Issue: [what's wrong]
Stack: [tech stack]
Constraint: [limitations]
```
**Mini-spec:**
## Quick Spec: [Title]
**Goal:** [one sentence]
**Steps:** 1. 2. 3.
**Done when:** - [ ] criteriaVariations to Try
- Create reusable context block templates for common task types at your company
- Try the mini-spec pattern for any task over 1 hour
- Compare time spent with quick patterns vs. full specs for similar tasks
Sources
Tempered AI — Forged Through Practice, Not Hype
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