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Documentation Index

Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://www.truefoundry.com/llms.txt

Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

System prompts set the behavior and context for the model. They help guide responses by defining the assistant’s role, tone, expertise, and constraints.

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Basic Usage

Include a system message at the beginning of your messages array: 
from openai import OpenAI

client = OpenAI(
    api_key="your_truefoundry_api_key",
    base_url="{GATEWAY_BASE_URL}"
)

response = client.chat.completions.create(
    model="openai-main/gpt-4o-mini",
    messages=[
        {"role": "system", "content": "You are a helpful assistant that specializes in Python programming."},
        {"role": "user", "content": "How do I write a function to calculate factorial?"}
    ]
)

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Best Practices

Clearly define the assistant’s role and expertise:
system_prompt = "You are a senior software engineer specializing in backend development with Python and Node.js."
Specify the desired communication style:
system_prompt = "You are a friendly customer support agent. Use casual language and be empathetic."
Include limitations or guidelines:
system_prompt = "You are a concise technical writer. Provide answers in bullet points and keep explanations under 100 words."
Give background information:
system_prompt = "You are assisting with a healthcare application that processes patient data. All responses must comply with HIPAA regulations."

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Example Templates

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Technical Assistant

system_prompt = """You are a senior software engineer specializing in backend development.
Provide detailed, production-ready code examples with proper error handling and documentation.
Always explain the reasoning behind your architectural decisions."""

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Creative Writing Assistant

system_prompt = """You are a creative writing coach. Help users improve their storytelling
by providing constructive feedback, suggesting plot developments, and offering writing techniques.
Be encouraging and specific in your suggestions."""

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Data Analysis Assistant

system_prompt = """You are a data scientist with expertise in statistical analysis and machine learning.
Provide clear explanations of analytical concepts, suggest appropriate methodologies,
and help interpret results in business terms."""