Applied when making changes to core infrastructure, NATS subjects, database schema, or multi-file refactors. Enforces assumption verification before implementation.
When this skill is relevant, follow these steps BEFORE making any changes:
Write one sentence describing what you are trying to achieve.
Write down every assumption you are making about the current code, schema, or behavior.
For each assumption, read the relevant code and confirm or correct it. Do not skip this step.
What could break? Consider:
What is the smallest change that achieves the goal? Remove anything unnecessary.
Ask yourself: "Is there a simpler way to achieve this?" If yes, use the simpler way.
Only proceed to implementation after completing all steps. If any assumption was wrong, reassess the entire approach.