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minimal-file-changes

@diey/codex-agent-skills
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Prefer small, local edits. Avoid creating new files or folders unless required by Laravel conventions or explicitly requested by the user.

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SKILL.md

name minimal-file-changes
description Prefer small, local edits. Avoid creating new files or folders unless required by Laravel conventions or explicitly requested by the user.

Minimal File Changes

Goal

Deliver the requested outcome with the smallest reasonable set of changes:

  • Minimise file churn
  • Avoid new abstractions unless they are clearly necessary
  • Preserve existing project structure and conventions

Default Behaviour

  • Prefer editing existing files over creating new ones.
  • Prefer local refactors (within the touched file) over introducing new layers (services, helpers, traits, DTOs).
  • Do not create new base directories or reorganise folder structure without explicit user approval.

When to Create New Files

Only create new files when one of the following is true:

  1. Laravel conventions require it

    • e.g. migrations, tests, policies, form requests, jobs, events/listeners, new models/components explicitly requested

  2. The user explicitly asked

    • e.g. “create a new class”, “extract to a service”, “make a new component”

  3. A change would be unsafe or unmaintainable without separation

    • If you believe separation is required, explain why in 1-2 sentences and ask for approval before creating the new file.

One File at a Time Rule

If a new file is required:

  • Create only one new file per iteration
  • Then stop and ask if the user wants to proceed with the next file/change

What NOT to Do

  • Do not introduce new architectural patterns (Repository, Service layer, DTOs) by default.
  • Do not create Helpers/, Services/, Support/, DTO/, or similar folders without explicit approval.
  • Do not split code across multiple files “for cleanliness” unless asked.
  • Do not do broad renames, mass formatting, or reorganisations unrelated to the request.

How to Handle Tension Between “Best Practice” and “Minimal Change”

If the best-practice approach conflicts with minimal change:

  • Provide the minimal-change solution first
  • Optionally propose a follow-up improvement as a separate step
  • Do not implement the broader refactor unless the user approves

Anti-patterns

  • “I extracted this into 5 new classes to improve readability” (without being asked)
  • “I reorganised these folders to follow a cleaner architecture”
  • “I created a base abstraction for future use”