Retext
Amazon QAI Assistant

Amazon Q Prompt Templates

Prompts that work well in Amazon Q, with the setup steps that matter in this tool. Name the AWS services, regions and resources involved, and paste the relevant code or configuration. Start with the general brief below, or pick a task-specific prompt from the related list.

Installs as a snippet — type ;amazon-q to paste this prompt anywhere on your Mac.
Prompt Template
I'm working in Amazon Q and need help with [describe the task in one sentence].

What I have:
- [the code, document or data involved]
- [what I've tried so far]

What a good result looks like:
- [the outcome you want]
- [constraints: style, length, libraries, deadlines]

Before you start, list any assumptions you're making. Then give the result, followed by one sentence on how to check it.

Context
- Reference material: [paste it below, or attach the file]

How to use this prompt

  1. 1

    Open Amazon Q

    Open Amazon Q in your IDE or the AWS console and paste the prompt.

  2. 2

    Give it context

    Name the AWS services, regions and resources involved, and paste the relevant code or configuration.

  3. 3

    Review and iterate

    Ask follow-ups in the same chat, and test changes in a non-production account first.

Working in Amazon Q

  • •Amazon Q is built for AWS work, so name the services (for example Lambda, S3, IAM) your question involves.
  • •Never paste credentials or secret values; describe the IAM setup instead.
  • •For infrastructure changes, ask for the change as code (CloudFormation, CDK or Terraform) so you can review it.

Example task: Bug Fix

What you give it

Expected: average([]) returns 0.
Actual: ZeroDivisionError: division by zero
Language: Python 3.12

def average(nums):
    total = 0
    for n in nums:
        total += n
    return total / len(nums)

Already ruled out: nums is always a list, never None. It only fails when a user has no orders yet.

What a good answer looks like (shortened)

1. Root cause: when nums is empty, len(nums) is 0, so the return line divides by zero.

2. Fixed code:
def average(nums):
    if not nums:
        return 0
    return sum(nums) / len(nums)

3. Why it works: the guard returns before any division happens. sum() replaces the manual loop and gives the same result for non-empty lists.

4. Check:
assert average([]) == 0
assert average([2, 4]) == 3.0

Tips for better results

  • •Name the AWS services, regions and resources involved, and paste the relevant code or configuration.
  • •Ask follow-ups in the same chat, and test changes in a non-production account first.
  • •Amazon Q is built for AWS work, so name the services (for example Lambda, S3, IAM) your question involves.

Get the free prompt pack

Our best coding prompts in one Markdown file, delivered by email. The templates here stay free either way — the pack just saves you the copying.

Variations

Plan first

Add this line: Before changing anything, give me a numbered plan and wait for my OK.

Explain as you go

Add this line: After the result, explain the two decisions that matter most and why you made them.

Starter task (Bug Fix)

Fix with a regression test: Add this line under Output format: 5. A unit test that fails on the old code and passes on the fixed code.

Save it as a Retext snippet

Retext is a free text expander for Mac. Save this prompt once, then type ;amazon-q in any app (ChatGPT, Claude, your editor, a browser tab) and the full prompt is pasted in.

  1. Click Add to Retext. The prompt installs as a snippet with the trigger ;amazon-q.
  2. Change the trigger in Retext if you prefer a different one.
  3. Type the trigger wherever you want the prompt, then fill in the brackets.
Browse all templates

Frequently asked questions

Is this prompt only for AWS projects?

Amazon Q is most useful when the work involves AWS services. The prompt still works for general code, but say what stack you use.

What should I leave out of the prompt?

Access keys, secrets and customer data. Describe permissions and resources by name instead.

How do I reuse this prompt without copying it every time?

Click Add to Retext to save it as a snippet. Then type ;amazon-q in any Mac app, including your AI tool, and the full prompt is pasted in.

Related Templates

Amazon Q Debugging PromptAmazon Q Performance Optimization PromptAmazon Q Security Review PromptAmazon Q Prompts for LawyersAmazon Q Prompts for Real Estate AgentsChatGPT Prompt Templates

Get the free prompt pack

Our best coding prompts in one Markdown file, delivered by email. The templates here stay free either way — the pack just saves you the copying.