Problem
$simplify-codebase already provides a strong evidence-based workflow for ordinary codebase simplification. AI-assisted implementation introduces a second, distinct maintenance burden: implementation-shape tests, build/CI guards, static scans, and inventories that were added only to prevent an AI-generated change from regressing.
Those guardrails need a dedicated investigation and delivery workflow. Treating them as ordinary dead code risks deleting active business, API, security, persistence, lifecycle, or deployment protections. The package also needs a portable SKILL.md contract so the same workflow can be discovered consistently by major coding harnesses.
Proposal
- Keep the existing
$simplify-codebase identity and ordinary-simplification workflow intact.
- Add an explicit objective selector for AI defensive-layer cleanup; do not mix its candidates with ordinary simplification in one unreviewed change batch.
- Add focused references for cleanup categories, proof records, stop conditions, and an itemized Handoff deletion ledger.
- Add cross-harness discovery guidance for Codex, Claude Code, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Cline, Gemini CLI, and OpenCode.
- Add a small portable-contract check for the skill name, frontmatter, and local reference links.
Safety boundaries
Selecting a cleanup category authorizes investigation, not removal of a live contract. Security, credentials, input validation, persistence, lifecycle, real deployment behavior, public APIs, and stored-format compatibility remain protected unless explicitly authorized and independently proven safe to retire.
Acceptance criteria
- Existing
$simplify-codebase invocation remains valid.
- The new objective is explicit and routes to category-specific references only when selected.
- A defensive-cleanup Handoff explains each deleted file or material section, its original role, evidence, retained behavior, reintroduction trigger, and verification.
- The package documents portable installation/discovery without vendor-only core frontmatter.
- Structural validation passes.
A follow-up PR implements this proposal against main.
Problem
$simplify-codebasealready provides a strong evidence-based workflow for ordinary codebase simplification. AI-assisted implementation introduces a second, distinct maintenance burden: implementation-shape tests, build/CI guards, static scans, and inventories that were added only to prevent an AI-generated change from regressing.Those guardrails need a dedicated investigation and delivery workflow. Treating them as ordinary dead code risks deleting active business, API, security, persistence, lifecycle, or deployment protections. The package also needs a portable
SKILL.mdcontract so the same workflow can be discovered consistently by major coding harnesses.Proposal
$simplify-codebaseidentity and ordinary-simplification workflow intact.Safety boundaries
Selecting a cleanup category authorizes investigation, not removal of a live contract. Security, credentials, input validation, persistence, lifecycle, real deployment behavior, public APIs, and stored-format compatibility remain protected unless explicitly authorized and independently proven safe to retire.
Acceptance criteria
$simplify-codebaseinvocation remains valid.A follow-up PR implements this proposal against
main.