Prompts

Learn Anything

Generic Template

I want to learn [TOPIC] from basics to an advanced/practical level, with the end goal of [SPECIFIC END GOAL — be concrete: “building X”, “passing Y certification”, “shipping a real Z”].

My background: [your relevant experience — languages, tools, domains you already know, so content can be mapped to what you already understand instead of starting from zero].

Create a learning roadmap and structure it as:

  • roadmap.md — the master index/plan, covering [TOPIC] end to end, broken into modules in a sensible order
  • Numbered lessons (001_lesson, 002_lesson, …), one concept per lesson, each containing:
    • 01_concepts.md (the theory/explanation)
    • 02_practicals.md (hands-on exercises)
    • 03_solutions.md (worked solutions)
  • Periodic real-world projects (001_project, …) every few lessons, each with 01_requirement.md + 02_solutions/ (actual runnable code/config, not just markdown) — projects should be realistic, basic to advanced, not toy busywork
  • Periodic assignments (001_assignment, …) similarly, with 01_questions.md + 02_solutions/

Constraints/preferences:

  • Build everything in strict sequential order — don’t jump ahead to more exciting topics even if they’re already planned
  • Use [SPECIFIC STACK/TOOLS, if you have a preference] rather than alternatives — [why, if you have a reason]
  • Use diagrams (mermaid or whatever renders without extra setup) for anything spatial/architectural/mathematical
  • Verify what you can actually execute in this environment and say so explicitly; don’t fabricate results for things you can’t run
  • Include a final module mapping this new skill back to my existing background — a capstone project that plays to what I already know

Don’t implement yet — first give me the roadmap and suggest anything I might be missing, then I’ll confirm before you start building.

Filled-in example: IoT → Smart Home Devices

I want to learn IoT from basics to an advanced/practical level, with the end goal of designing and building my own smart home system — sensors, a hub, a mobile/web dashboard, and automation rules (e.g. “turn on lights when motion detected after sunset”).

My background: full-stack web developer (Java/Node backend, React/Angular frontend), no embedded/hardware experience, comfortable with Linux and Docker.

Create a learning roadmap and structure it as:

  • roadmap.md — master index, modules from electronics/networking fundamentals through protocols, embedded firmware, edge processing, cloud integration, and security
  • Numbered lessons (001_lesson, …), each with 01_concepts.md, 02_practicals.md, 03_solutions.md
  • Periodic projects (001_project, …) with 01_requirement.md + 02_solutions/ — e.g. a temperature/humidity sensor node, a motion-triggered light automation, a full multi-device smart home hub with a web dashboard
  • Periodic assignments similarly

Constraints/preferences:

  • Cover both the hardware side (ESP32/Raspberry Pi, GPIO, sensors) and the software side (MQTT, Home Assistant/Node-RED or a custom backend, since that’s where my existing skills transfer)
  • Use MQTT as the core messaging protocol; Python or Node.js for hub/backend code (matches my existing background)
  • Build in strict sequential order
  • Use diagrams for network topology, protocol message flow, and circuit wiring
  • Since I don’t have physical hardware yet, tell me clearly which lessons can be simulated/verified in software (e.g. MQTT broker + virtual sensors) vs. which genuinely require real hardware to test
  • Final module: build a portfolio-ready smart home project I could demo or put on GitHub, tying back to my full-stack background (React dashboard + Node backend + real device data)

Don’t implement yet — first give me the roadmap and suggest anything I might be missing, then I’ll confirm before you start building.