# Ponytail Debt

> debt, ponytail, ledger, shortcuts, maintenance

- Skill: `lost-rob0t/ponytail-debt` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add lost-rob0t/ponytail-debt`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/lost-rob0t/ponytail-debt/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- License: MIT
- Author: lost-rob0t (https://skillmd.com/u/lost-rob0t)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/lost-rob0t/ponytail-debt

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# 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.md` only when the user asks.
- Do not invent owners or upgrade triggers. Use repository evidence.