Fix "It Broke": Get Unstuck When Your AI-Built Project Errors

Who it's for: Beginners whose first AI-built page or app suddenly stops working

The problem

Your code worked, you changed one thing, and now there's a blank page or a red error. You don't understand code, so you don't know where to look.

Copy-paste prompt

Works on free ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini. Replace everything in [brackets].

I'm a beginner and my project broke. Please help me fix it one small step at a time.

What I was trying to do: [e.g. add a "Contact" button]
What I changed right before it broke: [e.g. I pasted the new section from your last answer]
What I see now: [e.g. blank page / the button does nothing / error text below]

Exact error text (if any):
[paste it here]

My full current code:
[paste the whole file here, with any passwords or keys removed]

Please:
1. Explain in plain English what is probably wrong (one or two sentences).
2. Give me the smallest possible fix and show exactly where to paste it.
3. Tell me how to check it worked.
4. If you are not sure, give me your top 2 guesses and the easiest test for each. Do not rewrite the whole file unless you have to.

What good output looks like

A plain-English guess, a small targeted fix with the exact spot to paste it, and a way to check. If the AI rewrites everything without explanation, ask again for the smallest change.

Common mistake

Pasting only the error and not the code, or saying "it doesn't work" with no detail. Also: change ONE thing at a time. If you apply three fixes at once you won't know which worked.

Next step

Once it works, ask: "Add a note at the top explaining what this file does and what I changed, so I remember."

AI can be wrong. Check anything important before you rely on it.