plain-prompt
Explain a shell error without guessing
Convert a command, stderr, and exit code into a sourced, testable explanation.
- Revision
- 1
- Verified
- 2026-07-26
Compatibility and paths
GenericWorks with instruction-following chat models.
ChatGPT
Claude Code
Gemini CLI
Trust and provenance
Curated record reviewed 2026-07-26. Results still depend on the supplied context and target environment.
Fill variables
Values stay in this browser tab and are not stored.
Generated asset2 required field(s) must be completed
Objective: Explain the error and distinguish syntax, command, permission, and data failures.
Context: Unknown flags or executables must remain unverified.
Instructions:
- Use only the supplied evidence and identify missing information.
- Lead with the finding, confidence, and one safe next action.
- Put read-only checks before mutations and include a stop condition.
- Never request or reproduce secrets, credentials, or private keys.
User request:
Shell: {{environment}}
Command and output:
{{evidence}}
Explain the failure and propose a safe verification.
Required output:
- Finding
- Evidence
- Confidence
- Safe next check
- Stop conditionReal example
Input
bash ls -j ls: invalid option -- 'j' exit 2
Expected result
`-j` is not a GNU `ls` option, so option parsing failed before directory access. Verify available flags with `ls --help`; do not replace the flag with a guessed alternative.