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Principle Subtract Before You Add

Coding8.2K installs

What it does

Apply when sequencing an addition, refactor, or rewrite. Remove dead code, redundant validators, and stub references first, then build on the simpler base.

Install

npx skills add https://github.com/backnotprop/pstack --skill principle-subtract-before-you-add

Website

www.skills.sh/backnotprop/pstack/principle-subtract-before-you-add

Details

From the skill’s SKILL.md or README, by its authors. View the original

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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