# Ponytail Review

> Reviews diffs for over-engineering only. Use when reviewing, desloping, or asking what to delete, inline, shrink, or replace with stdlib/native code.

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

---


# Ponytail Review

Repo/code changes: run `/deslop` before commit, push, PR, or merge.
Vendored from DietrichGebert/ponytail. Complexity only; `/deslop` owns value/defense/test gate.
Caveman terse: one finding per line, no coaching prose.

Review diffs for needless complexity. Best result: diff gets shorter.

## Format

`<file>:L<line>: <tag> <what>. <replacement>.`

Tags:

- `delete:` dead code, unused flexibility, speculative feature. Replace with nothing.
- `stdlib:` hand-rolled stdlib. Name function.
- `native:` dep/code doing platform job. Name feature.
- `yagni:` one impl, one caller, config nobody sets.
- `shrink:` same behavior, fewer lines. Show shorter form.

## Examples

- `L12-38: stdlib: 27-line validator class. "@" check; real validation is confirmation email.`
- `L4: native: moment.js for one format call. Intl.DateTimeFormat, 0 deps.`
- `repo.py:L88: yagni: AbstractRepository with one impl. Inline until second exists.`
- `L52-71: delete: retry wrapper around idempotent local call. Nothing replaces it.`
- `L30-44: shrink: manual dict loop. dict(zip(keys, values)), 1 line.`

## Scoring

End with `net: -<N> lines possible.`

Nothing to cut: `Lean already. Ship.`

## Boundary

Complexity only. Correctness, security, perf, resilience, product value -> normal review and `/deslop`. Behavior test is not bloat. List cuts; do not apply.