Shortlist without rank claims
Builds a shortlist from requirements so “top picks” language does not smuggle in a fake ranking.
Help me build a shortlist. Do not rank the catalogue.
Requirements:
- Kind: [tools | models]
- Job: [job]
- Hard constraints: [license, data residency, offline, budget ceiling, context size]
- Soft preferences: [ecosystem, UX, language]
- Candidates to consider: [ids/names or “search generally”]
Rules:
- Eligible vs excluded — not #1/#2/#3.
- Unknown required facts → exclude or mark “needs evidence,” never invent them.
- Do not use price paid to a review site as a quality signal.
Return:
1) Restated requirements
2) Eligible candidates (why each qualifies)
3) Excluded candidates (failed requirement)
4) Evidence gaps to close before deciding
5) A shortlist paragraph with no podium languageAbout this template
Reason
Builds a shortlist from requirements so “top picks” language does not smuggle in a fake ranking.
Outcome
An eligible / excluded list with reasons—not a numbered winner podium.
Insight
Exclusions are as valuable as inclusions when requirements are strict.
These templates are starting points for your own work. They are not ranked, scored, or sold. AIScoreboard does not crown a “best prompt.” Money never buys rank, and these pages have no Stripe checkout or paywall.