{"id":"29886290-62f4-4dba-8abb-8652f506e55f","shortId":"fLbwHC","kind":"skill","title":"reducing-entropy","tagline":"Manual-only skill for minimizing total codebase size. Only activate when explicitly requested by user. Measures success by final code amount, not effort. Bias toward deletion.","description":"# Reducing Entropy\n\nMore code begets more code. Entropy accumulates. This skill biases toward the smallest possible codebase.\n\n**Core question:** \"What does the codebase look like *after*?\"\n\n## Before You Begin\n\n**Load at least one mindset from `references/`**\n\n1. List the files in the reference directory\n2. Read frontmatter descriptions to pick which applies\n3. Load at least one\n4. State which you loaded and its core principle\n\n**Do not proceed until you've done this.**\n\n## The Goal\n\nThe goal is **less total code in the final codebase** - not less code to write right now.\n\n- Writing 50 lines that delete 200 lines = net win\n- Keeping 14 functions to avoid writing 2 = net loss\n- \"No churn\" is not a goal. Less code is the goal.\n\n**Measure the end state, not the effort.**\n\n## Three Questions\n\n### 1. What's the smallest codebase that solves this?\n\nNot \"what's the smallest change\" - what's the smallest *result*.\n\n- Could this be 2 functions instead of 14?\n- Could this be 0 functions (delete the feature)?\n- What would we delete if we did this?\n\n### 2. Does the proposed change result in less total code?\n\nCount lines before and after. If after > before, reject it.\n\n- \"Better organized\" but more code = more entropy\n- \"More flexible\" but more code = more entropy\n- \"Cleaner separation\" but more code = more entropy\n\n### 3. What can we delete?\n\nEvery change is an opportunity to delete. Ask:\n\n- What does this make obsolete?\n- What was only needed because of what we're replacing?\n- What's the maximum we could remove?\n\n## Red Flags\n\n- **\"Keep what exists\"** - Status quo bias. The question is total code, not churn.\n- **\"This adds flexibility\"** - Flexibility for what? YAGNI.\n- **\"Better separation of concerns\"** - More files/functions = more code. Separation isn't free.\n- **\"Type safety\"** - Worth how many lines? Sometimes runtime checks in less code wins.\n- **\"Easier to understand\"** - 14 things are not easier than 2 things.\n\n## When This Doesn't Apply\n\n- The codebase is already minimal for what it does\n- You're in a framework with strong conventions (don't fight it)\n- Regulatory/compliance requirements mandate certain structures\n\n## Reference Mindsets\n\nSee `references/` for philosophical grounding.\n\nTo add new mindsets, see `adding-reference-mindsets.md`.\n\n---\n\n**Bias toward deletion. 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