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principle-subtract-before-you-add

principle-subtract-before-you-add

github.com/michael-denyerDevelopment3.7k887 installsUpdated 1d ago
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About principle-subtract-before-you-add

A development skill that recommends reducing complexity before extending a system. It focuses on observed usage, removing unnecessary elements, and simplifying the design before polishing it.

Key features

  1. 01Remove complexity before adding features
  2. 02Simplify before polishing
  3. 03Design for observed usage
  4. 04Avoid speculative checks beyond the spec
  5. 05Delete references with no novel content

Use cases

  1. 01Simplify a system before extending it
  2. 02Remove redundant prompts or documentation stubs

Install

Copy the command and run it in a terminal.

$npx skills add https://github.com/michael-denyer/pstack-claude --skill principle-subtract-before-you-add

After installing, type/principle-subtract-before-you-addin Claude Code to confirm it loaded.

Details

From the project README

Subtract Before You Add

When evolving a system, remove complexity first, then build. Default to subtraction.

Make simplification a continual investment. Leave the design slightly simpler and more capable behind the same or smaller surface than you found it.

  • Sequence removal before construction
  • Cut before you polish (get to the minimum before investing in quality)
  • Design for observed usage, not speculative edge cases
  • No speculative validators, parsers, or guards beyond what the spec demands
  • Simplify prompts (remove redundant instructions, excessive templates)
  • When a reference has no novel content, delete it rather than leaving a stub

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