Ponytail is a plugin that makes coding agents write the least code that works. Before adding anything, it checks whether the change is needed, already exists, or can use the stdlib or a native API. Same behavior, fewer lines to own.
Coding agents got very good at writing code. Maybe a little too good.
Ponytail gives them one thing they often miss: a stop rule.
Reuse what is already in the repo. Use the standard library or a native platform feature if it already does the job. If an existing dependency already does it, use that. New code comes last.
A lot of last year’s tooling wrapped the model in more process. This one does the opposite. Once the model can already ship the feature, the harder part is getting it to stop building.
Maybe the next superpower is restraint.
P.S. /ponytail ultra exists for when your codebase has wronged you personally 💢🫵🔥🥹
Replies
Flowtica Scribe
Hi everyone!
Coding agents got very good at writing code. Maybe a little too good.
Ponytail gives them one thing they often miss: a stop rule.
Reuse what is already in the repo. Use the standard library or a native platform feature if it already does the job. If an existing dependency already does it, use that. New code comes last.
A lot of last year’s tooling wrapped the model in more process. This one does the opposite. Once the model can already ship the feature, the harder part is getting it to stop building.
Maybe the next superpower is restraint.
P.S. /ponytail ultra exists for when your codebase has wronged you personally 💢🫵🔥🥹
Amazy.uk
Yeah, I'm deeply in love with this plugin.
Congrats on the launch! Been using Ponytail with Claude and really like how it keeps the agent focused, lean, and less prone to overbuilding.