cursor/principle-subtract-before-you-add
pstack/skills/principle-subtract-before-you-add/SKILL.md
Apply when sequencing an addition, refactor, or rewrite. Remove dead weight, redundant validators, and stub references first, then build on the simpler base.
$ install --global
skillsauthnpx skillsauth add cursor/plugins principle-subtract-before-you-addInstall this skill globally with one command. Works with Claude Code, Cursor, and Windsurf.
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Last scanned: May 24, 2026, 2:39 AM169.9s1 file scanned
SKILL.md
- name:
- principle-subtract-before-you-add
- description:
- Apply when sequencing an addition, refactor, or rewrite. Remove dead weight, redundant validators, and stub references first, then build on the simpler base.
- disable-model-invocation:
- true
Subtract Before You Add
When evolving a system, remove complexity first, then build. Deletion gives you a simpler base, which makes the next addition smaller and less brittle.
Why: Adding to a complex system compounds complexity. Removing first cuts the surface area, reveals the essential structure, and usually makes the next design obvious. Default to subtraction.
The pattern:
- 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
- Out-of-spec features drag validators behind them. Persistence, retry-on-startup, and schema migration each need guards to defend their inputs.
- 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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