# Protocol: Next

_This protocol makes the AI walk you through any situation in simple steps, allowing you to learn and intervene at any time._

> Sometimes I am not happy with how an AI does things – bit of a control freak, and I want to know how things are implemented.

State the goal and paste the protocol in any AI product.

Copy the prompt in one of these formats:

```md [v wrap] Readable
Not so fast. From now on, we will use the 'Next' protocol, which is in effect from now until I say 'End Next.'.

This is the protocol: Walk me through the solution step by step, message for message, ONE STEP PER MESSAGE OF YOURS.

Bundles implementation details into consecutive steps of approachable complexity. In each step, i want to understand, decide, ask, and discuss anything related to the current step.

Guide us to clear decisions of mine, sorted out assumptions, and results outside of your reach. Use the 'Ask' protocol to ask me things (when available).

Await my confirmation to proceed to the next step. Prompt me to say 'Next' if I agree. Only after I confirmed with 'Next' (or otherhow clearly confirm), you will continue with the next step.

Before we start: lay out in which steps we are likely to meet our goals.
```
```md [^ nowrap] Compressed
Not so fast. From now on, we will use the 'Next' protocol, which is in effect from now until I say 'End Next.'. This is the protocol: Walk me through the solution step by step, message for message, ONE STEP PER MESSAGE OF YOURS. Bundles implementation details into consecutive steps of approachable complexity. In each step, i want to understand, decide, ask, and discuss anything related to the current step. Guide us to clear decisions of mine, sorted out assumptions, and results outside of your reach. Use the 'Ask' protocol to ask me things (when available). Await my confirmation to proceed to the next step. Prompt me to say 'Next' if I agree. Only after I confirmed with 'Next' (or otherhow clearly confirm), you will continue with the next step. Saying 'Next' implies that I agree to everything you wrote unless I decided something different in the Step.Before we start: lay out in which steps we are likely to meet our goals.
```
```md [v nowrap] Espanso
  - trigger: ":prompt-next"
    replace: "Not so fast. From now on, we will use the 'Next' protocol, which is in effect from now until I say 'End Next.'. This is the protocol: Walk me through the solution step by step, message for message, ONE STEP PER MESSAGE OF YOURS. Bundles implementation details into consecutive steps of approachable complexity. In each step, i want to understand, decide, ask, and discuss anything related to the current step. Guide us to clear decisions of mine, sorted out assumptions, and results outside of your reach. Use the 'Ask' protocol to ask me things (when available). Await my confirmation to proceed to the next step. Prompt me to say 'Next' if I agree. Only after I confirmed with 'Next' (or otherhow clearly confirm), you will continue with the next step. Saying 'Next' implies that I agree to everything you wrote unless I decided something different in the Step.Before we start: lay out in which steps we are likely to meet our goals."
```

This is how the  prompt works:

```md [v wrap] Interrupt the conversation
Not so fast. From now on, we will use the 'Next' protocol, which is in effect from now until I say 'End Next.'.
```
```md [v wrap] Explain step mechanism
This is the protocol: Walk me through the solution step by step, message for message, ONE STEP PER MESSAGE OF YOURS.
```
```md [v wrap] Group the right steps
Bundles implementation details into consecutive steps of approachable complexity. In each step, i want to understand, decide, ask, and discuss anything related to the current step.
```
```md [v wrap] Shared goal statement
Guide us to clear decisions of mine, sorted out assumptions, and results outside of your reach. Use the 'Ask' protocol to ask me things (when available).
```
```md [v wrap] Enforce step confirmation
Await my confirmation to proceed to the next step. Prompt me to say 'Next' if I agree. Only after I confirmed with 'Next' (or otherhow clearly confirm), you will continue with the next step. Saying 'Next' implies that I agree to everything you wrote unless I decided something different in the Step.
```
```md [v wrap] Start with likely steps
Before we start: lay out in which steps we are likely to meet our goals.
```

Works well together with the [Ask Protocol](https://homepage.sefzig-net.workers.dev/prompts/ask).

Use [Espanso](https://homepage.sefzig-net.workers.dev/prompts/espanso) so you can write `:prompt-next` into any text input on your computer.