karpathy

Enforce disciplined coding practices with explicit assumptions and minimal changes.

1|Updated Jun 22, 2026
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/jchildree/The-QUESTION --skill karpathy-jchildree
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: karpathy
Source: https://github.com/jchildree/The-QUESTION/tree/main/.agents/skills/karpathy
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/jchildree/The-QUESTION --skill karpathy-jchildree

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

💡 This Skill includes scripts (resource) components.

What problem does it solve?

This Skill helps developers avoid common pitfalls in coding by enforcing disciplined practices inspired by Andrej Karpathy's guidelines.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Think Before Coding: Encourages explicit assumptions and tradeoffs before implementation.
  • Simplicity First: Promotes minimal, focused code solutions.
  • Surgical Changes: Ensures only necessary code is touched.
  • Goal-Driven Execution: Requires clear success criteria for each task.
  • Use Case: Before implementing a new feature, use /karpathy plan <task> to outline a disciplined approach.

Quick Start

Use the /karpathy command to activate disciplined coding guidelines for your session.

Frequently Asked Questions about karpathy

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I enforce disciplined coding practices before implementing a new feature?

You can enforce disciplined coding practices by activating guidelines that require explicit assumptions, simplicity, and surgical changes before writing code. This ensures developers outline a focused, goal-driven approach prior to implementation.

What are Andrej Karpathy's guidelines for software development?

Andrej Karpathy's guidelines for software development emphasize thinking before coding, maintaining simplicity first, making surgical changes, and ensuring goal-driven execution with clear success criteria for each task.

How do I plan a coding task to ensure minimal, focused changes?

To plan a coding task with minimal changes, use a structured command to outline your approach, define explicit assumptions, establish tradeoffs, and set clear success criteria before touching any code.

Do I need external dependencies to apply coding discipline guidelines?

No, you do not need external dependencies to apply these coding discipline guidelines. The skill operates independently using internal scripts to enforce development practices without requiring additional packages.

What's the best way to avoid common coding pitfalls during development?

The best way to avoid common coding pitfalls is to enforce simplicity, require explicit assumptions, and restrict modifications to surgical changes, ensuring every task is driven by a clear, predefined goal.