SKILL DETAIL
ponytail-help
dietrichgebert/ponytail/ponytail-help
ponytail-help is a quick-reference card that displays all ponytail modes, skills, and commands. It is a one-shot display and does not change the mode, write flag files, or persist anything. Triggers include `/ponytail-help`, "ponytail help", "what ponytail commands", and "how do I use ponytail". The card lists the three levels (Lite, Full, Ultra) with their trigger commands and effects, as well as the six skills (ponytail, ponytail-review, ponytail-audit, ponytail-debt, ponytail-gain, ponytail-help) with their triggers and functions. It also provides deactivation methods (e.g., "stop ponytail" or `/ponytail off`), configuration of the default mode (via environment variable or config file), update instructions (via plugin marketplace), and a link to full documentation.
Installation
npx skills add https://github.com/dietrichgebert/ponytail --skill ponytail-help
Skill-Dateien
SKILL.md
Zuletzt synchronisiert · 29.08.2026
SKILL.md›
---
name: ponytail-help
description: >
Quick-reference card for all ponytail modes, skills, and commands.
One-shot display, not a persistent mode. Trigger: /ponytail-help,
"ponytail help", "what ponytail commands", "how do I use ponytail".
---
# Ponytail Help
Display this reference card when invoked. One-shot, do NOT change mode,
write flag files, or persist anything.
## Levels
| Level | Trigger | What change |
|-------|---------|-------------|
| **Lite** | `/ponytail lite` | Build what's asked, name the lazier alternative in one line. |
| **Full** | `/ponytail` | The ladder enforced: YAGNI → stdlib → native → one line → minimum. Default. |
| **Ultra** | `/ponytail ultra` | YAGNI extremist. Deletion before addition. Challenges requirements before building. |
Level sticks until changed or session end.
## Skills
| Skill | Trigger | What it does |
|-------|---------|--------------|
| **ponytail** | `/ponytail` | Lazy mode itself. Simplest solution that works. |
| **ponytail-review** | `/ponytail-review` | Over-engineering review: `L42: yagni: factory, one product. Inline.` |
| **ponytail-audit** | `/ponytail-audit` | Whole-repo over-engineering audit: ranked list of what to delete. |
| **ponytail-debt** | `/ponytail-debt` | Harvest `ponytail:` shortcut comments into a tracked ledger. |
| **ponytail-gain** | `/ponytail-gain` | Measured-impact scoreboard: less code, less cost, more speed. |
| **ponytail-help** | `/ponytail-help` | This card. |
Codex uses `@ponytail`, `@ponytail-review`, and `@ponytail-help`; Claude Code
and OpenCode use the slash-command forms above (OpenCode ships all six as
slash commands).
## Deactivate
Say "stop ponytail" or "normal mode". Resume anytime with `/ponytail`.
`/ponytail off` also works.
## Configure Default Mode
Default mode = `full`, auto-active every session. Change it:
**Environment variable** (highest priority):
```bash
export PONYTAIL_DEFAULT_MODE=ultra
```
**Config file** (`~/.config/ponytail/config.json`, Windows: `%APPDATA%\ponytail\config.json`):
```json
{ "defaultMode": "lite" }
```
Set `"off"` to disable auto-activation on session start, activate manually
with `/ponytail` when wanted.
Resolution: env var > config file > `full`.
## Update
Enable auto-update once: open `/plugin`, go to Marketplaces, pick ponytail, Enable auto-update. Claude Code then pulls new versions at startup (run `/reload-plugins` when it prompts). Manual refresh: `/plugin marketplace update ponytail` then `/reload-plugins`.
If `/plugin` is not recognized, your Claude Code is out of date. Update it (`npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code@latest`, or `brew upgrade claude-code`) and restart. Other hosts use their own update flow.
## More
Full docs + examples: https://github.com/DietrichGebert/ponytail