Clavio for Mac: Six spoken briefs for coding assistants

Statements like "make the form work better" are easy to say but difficult to implement because better validation, layout changes, and loading feedback are distinct tasks. Stas, director of Just Tools LTD and creator of the Mac AI dictation app Clavio, presents structured verbal formats to communicate with coding assistants so that AI can inspect the code and users can verify the results. Effective briefs start with four landmarks: goal, context, constraints, and done when.

The first structure handles bug reproduction using the pattern: When I... I expect... Instead... Reproduce it by... Keep... Fixed means... For instance, when an empty comment submission leaves the loading button stuck, users can instruct the AI to verify validation messages while attaching exact error text rather than vague network errors.

The second structure focuses on user features with the pattern: The user needs... Put it in... It should... Preserve... Ready means... Examples include adding a copy button next to error panels with confirmation messages while preserving normal text selection and keyboard accessibility.

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The third structure targets code reviews using: Review... Focus on... For each finding, explain... For now... This prevents reviews from spiraling into unintended implementation tasks. The fourth structure addresses refactoring with: The repeated logic is... Simplify... Preserve... Avoid... Check... to set precise behavioral boundaries.

The fifth structure covers test assertions with: Protect against... Start with... Trigger... Assert... Also cover... Finally, the sixth structure summarizes problems, changes, scope, completed checks, and uncertainties to keep work logs accurate before submission.

"Make the form work better” is easy to say. It is much harder to implement: better validation, a different layout and clearer loading feedback are three different tasks.

Stas

For configuration on macOS, users can utilize listening modes like Hold key and select Clean settings to remove filler words while preserving original wording. App profiles allow tailored tones for tools like Claude or email applications. Advanced per-app style, tone, and pause controls require a Pro subscription. Clavio requires Apple Silicon and macOS 14.2 or later, featuring online processing for transcription and a free allowance of 3,000 polished words per month.

Source: Dev.to