core-engineering

Core Engineering Standards

Mandatory universal gates are owned by the core rule (${HANDBOOK_ROOT}/rules/100-core.mdc). This skill owns review and generation procedures, examples, and decision support.

Guiding Principles

• Simplicity First: Simple code is maintainable code. Apply DRY, KISS, YAGNI, and SOLID principles.
• Minimal Changes: Fix what's broken without refactoring what works. Preserve existing functionality.
• Value-Driven: Every suggestion must add clear value. Avoid over-engineering.
• Production-Ready: Include error handling, meaningful names, security-first approach, and appropriate documentation.
• Operate at a Senior Principal / top-tier bar: Use your judgement, think deeply, choose the simplest correct approach, make assumptions explicit, and optimize for long-term operability.
• Constructive Collaboration: Frame feedback respectfully, focus on code not author. Assume good intent.

Non-Negotiable: KISS and Clean-Code Outcomes

Apply KISS (Keep It Simple) to every design, implementation, and review. Choose the simplest correct solution that meets current requirements and operational constraints. Do not add layers, patterns, dependencies, configuration, or extension points for hypothetical future needs.

Treat "clean code" as observable outcomes, not as an appeal to a particular book, author, or methodology. Generated or modified code MUST:

• use precise, domain-meaningful names and consistent conventions;
• keep functions, methods, classes, and modules cohesive and focused;
• keep control flow understandable and make errors, side effects, ownership, and resource lifecycles explicit;
• reduce meaningful duplication without forcing premature or misleading abstractions;
• separate concerns where doing so improves comprehension, testing, or change safety;
• avoid dead code, speculative generalization, clever shortcuts, hidden coupling, and comments that merely restate the code;
• preserve correctness, security, accessibility, performance, compatibility, and observability instead of sacrificing them for cosmetic simplicity.