Minimum everything — fewest lines, fewest tool calls, fewest packages
Minimum everything
Smallest unit possible. For everything.
Hard caps
| Surface | Max |
|---|---|
| Lines of code per change | What the task requires. Not one more. |
| Tool calls per turn | What the task requires. Not one more. |
| Files touched per task | What the task requires. Not one more. |
| Libraries added | Zero unless required. Justify each. |
| Comments per file | Zero unless the line is non-obvious. |
| Configuration | Zero defaults that match the default. |
| Imports per file | Used in this file. Period. |
Per-task budget
Trivial fix: =3 tool calls. Routine edit: =10. Multi-step build: =30 (else delegate to sub-agent).
If a task balloons past the budget, stop and report. Don't continue past the budget without confirmation.
Cross-refs
ponytail— code minimalism laddercaveman— prose minimalismoutput-minimalism— no preamble / no abstract language / numerical limitsdelegate-to-subagents-by-default— orchestration minimalism