How to stop AI from changing too much
AI models try to be helpful by doing more than you asked. This is one of the main causes of broken apps. One extra sentence in your prompt fixes it.
What this means
When you give AI a task, it often adds improvements you did not ask for — it refactors code, renames variables, reorganizes files, adds new features. Each extra change is a new thing that could break your app. The model is not being reckless. It is trying to help. But for non-developers, more changes means more risk.
What to do
Add a scope constraint at the end of every prompt. This one sentence significantly reduces unwanted changes. Pair it with a narrow, specific task description and the results will be much more predictable.
Try this prompt
[Your specific task here.] Important: please change only what I have asked you to change. Do not refactor, rename, reorganize, or improve anything I have not mentioned. Keep all other code exactly as it is.