ponytail-audit

Audits an entire codebase for over-engineering and produces a ranked list of deletions and simplifications.

Updated Sep 11, 2026
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/CYRUS-pinto/pi-bot --skill ponytail-audit-cyrus-pinto
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: ponytail-audit
Source: https://github.com/CYRUS-pinto/pi-bot/tree/main/.agents/skills/ponytail-audit
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/CYRUS-pinto/pi-bot --skill ponytail-audit-cyrus-pinto

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve? Codebases accumulate dead code, speculative abstractions, and hand-rolled utilities that duplicate the standard library. This Skill scans the whole repository and reports exactly what to delete, simplify, or replace, ranked by impact. ## Core Features & Use Cases - Whole-repo over-engineering scan: Unlike a diff-based review, it audits the entire tree for bloat. - Tagged findings: Each finding is labeled delete, stdlib, native, yagni, or shrink with a concrete replacement suggestion and file path. - Ranked one-shot report: Outputs one line per finding, biggest cut first, ending with an estimate of net lines and dependencies removable. It never applies fixes. - Use Case: Before a major refactor, run the audit to find single-implementation interfaces, factories with one product, dead config flags, and hand-rolled utilities the standard library already ships. ## Quick Start Ask the AI to audit this codebase for over-engineering and list what can be deleted or replaced with standard library equivalents.

Frequently Asked Questions about ponytail-audit

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

FAQPage Schema
How do I audit a codebase for over-engineering?

Run a whole-repo audit that scans every file for dead code, single-implementation abstractions, and hand-rolled utilities duplicating the standard library. The output is a ranked list of findings tagged by type, with a concrete replacement and file path for each.

How to find dead code and unused abstractions in a repository?

Look for factories with one product, interfaces with a single implementation, wrappers that only delegate, dead config flags, and files exporting one thing. The audit tags these as `delete` or `yagni` findings and ranks the biggest cuts first.

What is the difference between ponytail-audit and ponytail-review?

ponytail-review scans a diff, while ponytail-audit scans the entire repository tree. Both use the same tagging system (delete, stdlib, native, yagni, shrink), but the audit produces a one-shot whole-repo report instead of reviewing changes.

Does the over-engineering audit automatically fix or refactor code?

No. The audit only lists findings and applies nothing. It is a one-shot report describing what to cut and what to replace it with, leaving all changes to the developer.

What issues are out of scope for a code bloat audit?

Correctness bugs, security vulnerabilities, and performance problems are explicitly out of scope. The audit covers only over-engineering and complexity; other issues should go through a normal review pass.