Prompt AI to List Assumptions Before Editing Code to Catch Hidden Errors

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A software developer writing on DEV Community warns that AI coding tools often make silent, untested assumptions before generating code, which can produce clean-looking but logically flawed changes. The author recommends inserting a prompt that instructs the AI to list up to five assumptions — along with supporting evidence, associated risks, and open questions — before touching any file. A key element of the prompt is the instruction 'do not write code yet,' which forces a deliberate pause between the tool's reasoning and its output. The technique is especially valuable for changes involving data writes, error handling, authentication, or legacy code with limited test coverage. The broader goal is to surface hidden unknowns before they become committed code, shifting code review from checking syntax to verifying starting assumptions.

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