---
title: When the prompt is longer than the code
date: 2026-06-05T17:14:17+08:00
categories:
- llms
---
I used [pi](https://pi.dev/) to create a compact home page for [media.s-anand.net](https://media.s-anand.net/) using these prompts:
> Create `index.html` - a simple, elegant page that says that this page (media.s-anand.net) serves large media files for [Anand](https://www.s-anand.net/) - that's where they should look instead.
... followed by:
> Skip the part that says "Please visit ..."
... then:
> Shorten index.html to just 2-3 elegant rules of CSS. I want it MUCH smaller and simpler.
... and finally:
> Center vertically and horizontally.
These prompts ended up being larger than the 471-byte `index.html`:
```html
media.s-anand.net
media.s-anand.net
This domain serves large media files for Anand.
```
Not that this matters, because:
1. I didn't know what I wanted and having an AI coding agent generate a first draft helped with starting trouble and ideation.
2. I don't know how to center on the screen and this did it for me.
3. I am practicing the skill that matters - reviewing - and not the skill AI is taking over - writing code.