Start simple
Get something small working first. Add complexity one piece at a time.
Be specific
"Bar chart of paper count by year for MIT" beats "make a chart."
Say what's wrong, not how to fix it
"The chart is too small" or "the colors are ugly." Let the AI figure out the code.
You can't break anything
The API is read-only. Worst case, start a new conversation.
First result is never final
Expect 3-10 rounds of iteration. That's normal.
Copy-paste errors
See an error? Copy the whole thing and paste it to the AI.
Save as you go
Save working versions before asking for more changes.
Show it examples
Screenshots, links, descriptions of what you want. Context helps.
Ask for "single HTML page"
One self-contained file. Easy to open, share, and deploy.
Models do the minimum
Watch for shortcuts you don't want. Just ask it to fix them.
It's a chainsaw
Powerful and fast. Can also cut your leg off.
Hallucinations happen
AI makes things up. Open data = receipts. Check the source.
Your expertise matters
AI writes code. You know if the output makes sense.
It won't replace you
It amplifies what you do. You still ask the right questions.