AI can do a lot, but only if you tell it exactly what you want. Vague prompts = vague results. For sysadmins, engineers, and devs, structured prompts save time and produce repeatable, actionable outputs.
Below are my go-to frameworks and examples for tackling real tech scenarios efficiently.
R-A-I-N (Role + Aim + Input + Numeric Target + Format)#
Use when: You want AI to act like an expert and produce measurable results.
Prompt Example:
Act as a Senior Linux Engineer, write a system hardening checklist
that reduces CVSS ≥7 vulnerabilities by 30%, output as Markdown table.
Example Output (snippet):
| Task | Severity | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Disable root SSH login | Critical | Edit /etc/ssh/sshd_config, set PermitRootLogin no |
| Remove unused packages | High | yum remove package_name |
| Enforce password complexity | High | Update /etc/pam.d/system-auth |
C-L-A-R (Context + Limits + Action + Result)#
Use when: Analyzing logs, troubleshooting issues, or doing root cause analysis.
Prompt Example:
Given logs from the last 7 days, focus on failed SSH attempts,
identify top 3 sources, output as CSV + summary table.
Example Output:
IP, Failed Attempts
192.168.1.42, 32
10.0.0.5, 28
172.16.0.13, 15
Summary: Majority of failed SSH attempts originate from 192.168.1.42; consider a firewall rule or fail2ban.
F-L-O-W (Function + Level + Output + Win Metric)#
Use when: Teaching or creating tutorials and scripts for beginners.
Prompt Example:
Function: DevOps mentor
Level: beginner
Output: 500-word tutorial on systemd timers
Win metric: all examples run without errors
Example Output (snippet):
- Explanation of systemd timer unit file structure
- Example of daily backup timer
- Validation commands to ensure the timer is active
P-I-V-O (Problem + Insights + Voice + Outcome)#
Use when: Diagnosing issues and recommending actionable fixes.
Prompt Example:
Problem: intermittent backup failures
Insights: analyze logs and cron jobs
Voice: senior sysadmin
Outcome: two fixes + monitoring script
Example Output (snippet):
- Fix 1: Correct cron job environment variables
- Fix 2: Adjust backup script logging to catch errors
- Monitoring: Python script that parses logs and sends Slack alerts
S-E-E-D (Situation + Endgoal + Examples + Deliverables)#
Use when: Planning projects, workshops, or structured exercises.
Prompt Example:
Situation: build a 2-week Kubernetes workshop
Endgoal: deploy microservices
Examples: hands-on labs
Deliverables: YAML manifests + cheat sheet
Example Output:
- Week 1: Cluster setup, basic pods, networking
- Week 2: Deploy sample microservices, services, ingress
- Deliverables: kubernetes-manifests.zip + workshop-cheatsheet.pdf
Combining Frameworks: Real Tech Example#
Why: Complex tasks often require AI to multi-task, analyze logs, diagnose issues, and produce scripts simultaneously.
Prompt Example:
Role: Senior Sysadmin
Context: Last 14 days of Apache logs
Limits: Focus only on 500 errors
Action: Identify top 5 failing endpoints and suggest fixes
Output: CSV + remediation script + summary table
Voice: precise, technical
Numeric Target: reduce 500 errors by 50% in next week
Potential Output:
- CSV with endpoint, hits, last occurrence
- Bash script to rotate logs and clear caches
- Summary: Top 5 endpoints causing 60% of 500 errors; recommended fixes applied
Tip: Save Prompts Like Scripts#
Treat prompts as reusable templates. Store them in a “prompt library” and version them like code for repeated tasks, such as:
- Log analysis
- Security hardening
- Monitoring scripts
- Automation guides
- Tutorials for junior engineers
Trust, but Verify: A Note on Safety#
AI-generated output, especially commands and configuration, should never be trusted blindly. Always treat it as a skilled but fallible assistant. Before executing any suggested command or applying any configuration:
- Review: Carefully read and understand what the code does.
- Test: Run it in a non-production environment first.
- Verify: Confirm that it aligns with your security policies and best practices.
Think of AI as a powerful tool for generating a first draft, not a final, production-ready solution.
Takeaway#
Structured prompts turn AI into a true tech assistant, not just a text generator. Use R-A-I-N, C-L-A-R, F-L-O-W, P-I-V-O, and S-E-E-D for consistent, actionable results. Keep examples and outputs handy, future you will thank you.