Practice · 2022–2025 · AI Present

Prompt engineering

Craft the magic string until the model behaves. Job title of 2023; table-stakes skill of 2026.

How Prompt engineering mutated

Prompt engineering mutated from a specialty into ordinary product work — versioned prompts, evals, and tool schemas. It failed as a standalone career when models improved and templates commoditized. The durable residue is treating prompts like code with tests.

Patterns

2022–now

AI Present

Part of the AI Present era (2022–now).

Read the AI Present era →

Compare with

Related

© 2026 Fadstack · Shane Code · Privacy

Opinionated history · not a ranking

Site updates

Occasional Fadstack notes. Confirm by email — this list stays off the book and advisory lists.

I use the address for Fadstack updates only. Privacy.