It sounds like you’re dealing with a classic case of environment-specific issues with the `prompt` function. First off, it’s important to note that `prompt` is built into web browsers, so it should work as expected when your JavaScript is running there. However, there are a couple of scenarios where you might run into the “ReferenceError: prompt is not defined.”

If you’re running your code in a non-browser environment, like Node.js or certain online coding platforms (like JSFiddle or CodePen), the `prompt` function won’t be available. Make sure you are executing the code in the browser console or in an HTML file that you open in the browser.

Another thing to check is if your code is being executed before the page has fully loaded. Sometimes, if you try to call `prompt` in a script that runs too early, it may not be defined yet. To avoid this, try wrapping your code in an event listener for the `DOMContentLoaded` event:

document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function() {
        var userInput = prompt("Please enter your input:");
        console.log(userInput);
    });

If you still can’t get it working and want to explore alternatives, you could definitely use HTML input fields and JavaScript to capture user input. It might feel like overkill, but it gives you more control and avoids the possible pitfalls of using `prompt`. Here’s a simple example:

<input type="text" id="userInput">
    <button onclick="getInput()">Submit</button>
    
    <script>
        function getInput() {
            var input = document.getElementById('userInput').value;
            console.log(input);
        }
    </script>

Lastly, ensure your browser settings aren’t blocking dialogs, and try testing your code in different browsers. This can sometimes resolve weird issues!

Don’t stress too much, we’ve all faced similar hiccups. Keep debugging, and you’ll get it sorted out!