Why this lesson exists
The scaffolding prompt that produces a coherent file tree, stubs and interfaces — without fake implementation.
What this lesson covers
This lesson sits in Module 4 — The Single-Prompt Playbook. It is scoped to a single 45-minute session with a concrete outcome at the end rather than a survey of the topic.
Learning objectives
- Prompt for structure first and behaviour second
- Forbid stub-filling so you get honest skeletons
- Review a scaffold against the spec before any build begins
Session agenda
- 5 minFraming — why this exists and what you will be able to do
- 10 minCore concept — the idea, explained from first principles
- 15 minWorked walkthrough — watch it happen, with the real fields and output
- 10 minHands-on exercise — you run it and measure the result
- 5 minCheckpoint — recall questions and a note to your future self
Session outline
The full written lesson is in production. The session is built around the objectives above and follows the standard agenda: framing, the core concept explained from first principles, a worked walkthrough using the real API fields and outputs, a hands-on exercise you run yourself, and a recall checkpoint.
Every practical lesson in this course follows the same evidence rule — you run the thing and read the actual output rather than accepting a description of it. Where a lesson touches cost, you measure tokens and cache splits from the response. Where it touches code, you execute it. Where it touches design, you look at it at phone width.
Where it fits
| Position | Lesson |
|---|---|
| Previous | One-Prompt Documents, Data and Analysis |
| This lesson | One-Prompt Scaffolding: Idea to Skeleton in One Pass |
| Next | Why One Prompt Isn't Enough |
Checkpoint
At the end of this session you should be able to satisfy each of the learning objectives above without notes. If any one of them is still fuzzy, re-read that section before moving on — the next lesson assumes it.
Next
Why One Prompt Isn't Enough