From 2e92655ceee04451f6c20bf8d5616b4400027088 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Thomas Kaul <4159106+dtslvr@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Tue, 7 Jul 2026 10:31:48 +0200
Subject: [PATCH] Add Karpathy guidelines skills

---
 .agents/skills/karpathy-guidelines/SKILL.md | 72 +++++++++++++++++++++
 skills-lock.json                            |  6 ++
 2 files changed, 78 insertions(+)
 create mode 100644 .agents/skills/karpathy-guidelines/SKILL.md

diff --git a/.agents/skills/karpathy-guidelines/SKILL.md b/.agents/skills/karpathy-guidelines/SKILL.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..029e4d55d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.agents/skills/karpathy-guidelines/SKILL.md
@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+---
+name: karpathy-guidelines
+description: Behavioral guidelines to reduce common LLM coding mistakes. Use when writing, reviewing, or refactoring code to avoid overcomplication, make surgical changes, surface assumptions, and define verifiable success criteria.
+license: MIT
+---
+
+# Karpathy Guidelines
+
+Behavioral guidelines to reduce common LLM coding mistakes, derived from [Andrej Karpathy's observations](https://x.com/karpathy/status/2015883857489522876) on LLM coding pitfalls.
+
+**Tradeoff:** These guidelines bias toward caution over speed. For trivial tasks, use judgment.
+
+## 1. Think Before Coding
+
+**Don't assume. Don't hide confusion. Surface tradeoffs.**
+
+Before implementing:
+
+- State your assumptions explicitly. If uncertain, ask.
+- If multiple interpretations exist, present them - don't pick silently.
+- If a simpler approach exists, say so. Push back when warranted.
+- If something is unclear, stop. Name what's confusing. Ask.
+
+## 2. Simplicity First
+
+**Minimum code that solves the problem. Nothing speculative.**
+
+- No features beyond what was asked.
+- No abstractions for single-use code.
+- No "flexibility" or "configurability" that wasn't requested.
+- No error handling for impossible scenarios.
+- If you write 200 lines and it could be 50, rewrite it.
+
+Ask yourself: "Would a senior engineer say this is overcomplicated?" If yes, simplify.
+
+## 3. Surgical Changes
+
+**Touch only what you must. Clean up only your own mess.**
+
+When editing existing code:
+
+- Don't "improve" adjacent code, comments, or formatting.
+- Don't refactor things that aren't broken.
+- Match existing style, even if you'd do it differently.
+- If you notice unrelated dead code, mention it - don't delete it.
+
+When your changes create orphans:
+
+- Remove imports/variables/functions that YOUR changes made unused.
+- Don't remove pre-existing dead code unless asked.
+
+The test: Every changed line should trace directly to the user's request.
+
+## 4. Goal-Driven Execution
+
+**Define success criteria. Loop until verified.**
+
+Transform tasks into verifiable goals:
+
+- "Add validation" → "Write tests for invalid inputs, then make them pass"
+- "Fix the bug" → "Write a test that reproduces it, then make it pass"
+- "Refactor X" → "Ensure tests pass before and after"
+
+For multi-step tasks, state a brief plan:
+
+```
+1. [Step] → verify: [check]
+2. [Step] → verify: [check]
+3. [Step] → verify: [check]
+```
+
+Strong success criteria let you loop independently. Weak criteria ("make it work") require constant clarification.
diff --git a/skills-lock.json b/skills-lock.json
index 0ecf51f96..06bf64189 100644
--- a/skills-lock.json
+++ b/skills-lock.json
@@ -7,6 +7,12 @@
       "skillPath": "angular-developer/SKILL.md",
       "computedHash": "28eb592b92e5a24c4e3a1c0229a854069f0b8c49bed7b8d2bf6b852812dbe214"
     },
+    "karpathy-guidelines": {
+      "source": "multica-ai/andrej-karpathy-skills",
+      "sourceType": "github",
+      "skillPath": "skills/karpathy-guidelines/SKILL.md",
+      "computedHash": "41e8ca055bbde13d240776a14a076a59614057200340c243130a76ba4e64cac8"
+    },
     "nestjs-best-practices": {
       "source": "kadajett/agent-nestjs-skills",
       "sourceType": "github",