Best Practices for Getting the Most Out of Reasoning Models, Like O3-Mini

Here are some best practices for working with reasoning models, according to the official docs: 1. Use Developer Messages: New models from o1-2024-12-17 support developer messages instead of system messages. 2. Keep Prompts Simple: Short and clear instructions work best. 3. Avoid Chain-of-Thought Prompts: No need for "think step by step" instructions. 4. Use Delimiters for Clarity: Use markdown, XML tags, and titles to structure inputs clearly. 5. Limit Context in RAG: Include only relevant info to prevent overcomplication. 6. Try Zero-Shot First: Start with direct prompts, then add examples if needed. 7. Provide Specific Guidelines: Set clear constraints in your prompt. 8. Be Specific About Goals: Clarify end goals and success criteria. 9. Markdown Formatting: Use "Formatting re-enabled", on the first line of your developer message, for markdown output.