MiniMax M3 · prompting-guide
Turn MiniMax Official: M-Series Prompting Best Practices into an executable task with explicit inputs, environment, and boundaries; see the detail page for steps and limits.
Task:
{{TASK}}
Context:
{{CONTEXT}}
Source:
{{SOURCE}}
Constraints: use only supplied evidence and stop at the defined failure limit.
Output format:
{{OUTPUT_FORMAT}}
Representative cases:
{{TEST_CASES}}Replace before running: {{TASK}}, {{CONTEXT}}, {{SOURCE}}, {{OUTPUT_FORMAT}}, {{TEST_CASES}}
Prepare an M3 task, project context, numbered and dated sources, an acceptance command, and tool stop conditions.
Separate Task, Context, Source, Constraints, and Output format.
Use 3–5 differentiated examples for extraction/classification and version variables for repeated work.
Run 10–30 fixed cases and record format errors, unsupported facts, tool misuse, and long-context regressions.
Check format, citations, stopping behavior, and tool arguments. Remove irrelevant history and place the task after sources when context is confused; use direct output when thinking slows a simple task.
This is an M-series method guide, not an M3 success rate or Tabbit end-to-end test; the block is an editorial adaptation.
This is the most complete source in this batch and the one best suited for direct conversion into M3 usage guidelines. The official documentation covers general prompting, output formats, long context, tool use, reasoning depth, long-running agent tasks, and prompt evaluation and iteration.
The task, constraints, priorities, and desired output must be explicit. The official golden rule is: show the prompt to a colleague who knows nothing about the context; if they would be confused, the model will be too.
Explain the reasons behind constraints so the model can make tradeoffs among format, safety, accessibility, and workflow.
Use 3–5 relevant, differentiated, concrete examples for difficult classification, extraction, and boundary-setting tasks.
For repeated tasks, use a template with named variables so you can compare versions, locate regressions, and keep behavior stable.
Separate content with short labels such as Task, Context, Source, Constraints, and Output format; avoid deep nesting.
In long contexts, put the task after the source; number the sources, add dates, and mark clear boundaries; define priorities when sources conflict.
Tool prompts should clearly state the tool's purpose, when to use it, when not to use it, its parameters, return structure, and failure behavior.
Define explicit stopping rules: stop retrying after a tool fails twice and explain the blocker; do not call tools just to “look busy.”
Require deep reasoning for complex planning, debugging, and tradeoffs; for extraction, rewriting, and formatting, ask for direct output rather than requiring deep thinking every time.
Allow the model to refuse and cite its basis, reducing hallucinations about versions, prices, policies, and API behavior.
Keep only a small number of active goals in long tasks, with the plan, status, and open questions in visible context; split work across windows when necessary.
Prepare 10–30 representative test cases for important prompts, compare candidate versions, record regressions, and maintain a change log.
Task: [specific task to complete]
Context: [project background, tech stack, and why this approach is used]
Source: [files, logs, requirements, or API documentation]
Constraints:
- [required boundaries]
- [when to use tools and when not to]
- [how to handle failures]
Process:
1. First inspect the existing project and tests.
2. State a plan before implementing it.
3. Run relevant validation after each change.
Output format:
- Summary
- Changed files
- Tests and results
- Remaining risksPrompt patterns for using MiniMax Token Plan models effectively in coding, tool-use, agentic, and long-context workflows… This is a necessary excerpt; read the original source for full context.
This is a general official M-series document, not a single-task experiment focused only on M3. Official examples should serve as a skeleton, but they still need to be tested on your own project.
MiniMax API Docs, Token Plan → M-series Usage Tips · Source date: Not disclosed · Edited: 2026-09-20
Read the original sourceMiniMax M3
Run this guide in the environment listed above. Downloading does not transfer the template or establish model availability for your account.