AI agent skill · by @Archive228

Simplify

Reduce a change to the minimum that solves the problem. Use when code is over-engineered or a diff is bloated.

Archived 2026-10-23 · Source updated 2026-07-14 · License: MIT. Check the original repository for the latest version.

SKILL.md instructions

# Simplify
Over-engineering is the default failure mode. Cut it:
- **Premature abstraction** — a class/strategy/factory for one caller. Inline it. Abstract on the THIRD use, not the first.
- **Speculative config** — a parameter/flag/env var for something that never changes. Hardcode it until there's a real reason.
- **Dead flexibility** — an interface with one implementation, a generic with one type. Delete the indirection.
- **Defensive noise** — null checks on values that can't be null, try/except for errors that can't happen. Handle only real failure modes.
Test: can you justify every changed line by a direct connection to what was asked? If a line is there "while I was in there", revert it.