10 Best ChatGPT Prompts for Developers in 2025

Developers who use AI effectively ship faster, debug smarter, and write cleaner code. But the difference between a helpful AI response and a useless one often comes down to a single thing: the quality of the prompt.

Here are 10 battle-tested ChatGPT prompts every developer should have saved.

1. Code Review with Explanation

Review the following [language] code. Identify bugs, security vulnerabilities, performance issues, and style violations. For each issue, explain why it's a problem and provide a corrected version.

[paste your code here]

2. Write Unit Tests

Write comprehensive unit tests for the following function using [Jest/PyTest/etc]. Cover happy path, edge cases, and error states. Include test descriptions that explain what each test validates.

[paste your function here]

3. Explain a Complex Codebase

I'm joining a new project. Here is a file from the codebase. Please explain: (1) what this module does, (2) its key dependencies, (3) any patterns or conventions I should know, (4) potential gotchas.

[paste code here]

4. Debug an Error

I'm getting this error in [language/framework]: [paste error message]

Here is the relevant code: [paste code]

What is causing this error? Walk me through your diagnosis step by step, then provide the fix.

5. Refactor for Readability

Refactor this [language] code for readability and maintainability. Use meaningful variable names, extract reusable functions, add comments where the logic is non-obvious, and follow [style guide, e.g., PEP8 / Airbnb]. Do not change the behavior.

[paste code]

6. Generate a Database Schema

Design a PostgreSQL schema for a [describe app type, e.g., "multi-tenant SaaS project management tool"]. Include tables, columns with data types, primary/foreign keys, and indexes. Explain your design decisions.

7. Write a README

Write a professional README.md for a [language] project called [name]. The project does: [describe]. Include: overview, features, installation, usage example, environment variables, and contributing guide. Use GitHub markdown formatting.

8. Convert Code Between Languages

Convert the following [source language] code to [target language]. Preserve the exact logic and behavior. Note any language-specific differences I should be aware of.

[paste code]

9. Architect a Feature

I'm building [feature description] in a [stack: e.g., Next.js + PostgreSQL] app. Walk me through the architecture: what components to build, how data flows, what the API endpoints should look like, and any edge cases to handle upfront.

10. Optimize for Performance

Analyze the following code for performance bottlenecks. Identify the most expensive operations, explain why they're slow, and provide an optimized version with an explanation of the tradeoffs.

[paste code]

Save These and More on PromptNeko

These prompts are a starting point. On PromptNeko's Coding Prompts section, you'll find more advanced developer prompts with variable fields, output examples, and community ratings.

Browse coding prompts →