Restraint
This skill cuts a change down to the ask. It removes extra interface, options and code and treats "remove" as delete.
Build the ask
An element, option or code path the user did not ask for is a finding unless the ask needs it to work. Work that has not shipped carries no backwards compatibility. A cut the user has not approved is a proposal, not an edit.
Label wording belongs to copy. Reusing an existing part belongs to reuse.
Nothing beside the ask
Add no sections, badges, counts, captions, footers, icons inside buttons, sounds or decorative effects the user did not request. A count badge on every row is restraint-no-unrequested-ui.
No feedback the screen already gives
Do not add a toast or a dialog for an action whose result is already on screen. That is restraint-no-redundant-feedback.
The smallest build that works
Use the native element before a custom one, one app before a monorepo and a fixed value before a setting. A custom video player where <video controls> works is restraint-smallest-build. A preference nobody will change is restraint-no-needless-setting.
No defensive code before release
Keep no legacy branch and no compatibility shim in unshipped work. That is restraint-no-legacy. Do not add a fallback for a value that is always set. That is restraint-no-fallbacks.
Remove means delete
When the user says remove, delete the code and its styles, variables, routes and menu entries. "Deferred for review" is restraint-delete-dont-defer. A removed package that leaves its variables in theme.css is restraint-remove-the-trail.
Asked for a cleanup, list unused files, exports, styles, dependencies and leftover prototypes. Delete them once approved.
Comments state constraints or go
Delete comments that narrate the code. Keep one only when it states a constraint the code cannot show. A narrating comment is restraint-no-narrating-comments.
The pair
Every check is a pair. The broken line sits beside the line that replaces it.
| Rule | Broken | Replacement |
|---|---|---|
restraint-no-unrequested-ui |
A count badge on every row | No badge |
restraint-no-redundant-feedback |
A toast after a move the user can see | No toast |
restraint-smallest-build |
A custom video player | <video controls> |
restraint-no-needless-setting |
A preference for a gap nobody changes | A fixed --gap |
restraint-no-legacy |
A legacy branch kept "for safety" | Deleted |
restraint-no-fallbacks |
value ?? defaultValue for a value that is always set |
value |
restraint-delete-dont-defer |
"Deferred for your review" | Deleted, or one question |
restraint-remove-the-trail |
A removed package's variables left in theme.css |
The variables removed with it |
restraint-no-narrating-comments |
// Render the header |
No comment |
Reporting
Severity. HIGH is a feature, setting or code path nobody asked for, or a "removed" item that still exists. MEDIUM is a fallback, a legacy branch or a leftover variable. LOW is a narrating comment.
Format. One finding per root cause:
file:line - [rule-id] what is wrong
Then a Rule | Count | Severity summary. Block when any HIGH remains, Approve otherwise. Never Approve a file you did not read. Mark every check you could not run as Not verified.