lost-rob0t Ponytail Debt
External import of Ponytail by Dietrich Gebert and contributors, adapted from upstream v4.9.0 under MIT.
Goal
Collect deliberate ponytail: simplification markers into a debt ledger so deferred upgrade paths stay visible.
Input
A repository with text-search access. Git blame is optional when ownership is requested.
Output
Group markers by file:
<file>:<line>, <simplification>. ceiling: <limit>. upgrade: <trigger/path>.
End with <N> markers, <M> with no trigger. If none exist: No ponytail: debt. Clean ledger.
Workflow
Search source files for comment markers containing ponytail: while skipping VCS metadata, dependencies, and build output. Support the comment syntax used by the repository, not only # or //.
The convention is:
ponytail: <known ceiling>, <upgrade trigger/path>
Flag a marker with no-trigger when it does not name when or how to revisit the shortcut.
Rules
- Read and report only by default.
- Persist a ledger such as
PONYTAIL-DEBT.mdonly when the user asks. - Do not invent owners or upgrade triggers. Use repository evidence.