principle-subtract-before-you-add

Tells you to delete old code first, then build new features on top of the cleaner base.

Installation

Run `npx skills add "https://github.com/mdsmithaustin/pstack" --skill "principle-subtract-before-you-add"` to install this skill, then follow its SKILL.md instructions for my next request.

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SKILL.mdShow the author's original SKILL.md

---
name: principle-subtract-before-you-add
description: "Apply when sequencing an addition, refactor, or rewrite. Remove dead code, redundant validators, and stub references first, then build on the simpler base."
---

# 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

Ships with 1 supporting file:

agents/openai.yaml

Mirrored from the author's public source. Install counts from the open skills registry.