Ponytail Help
- 10.5k installs
- 96k repo stars
- Updated July 15, 2026
- dietrichgebert/ponytail
A stateless, read-only reference display for ponytail command syntax, modes, and skill descriptions.
About
Ponytail-help is a one-shot reference skill that displays quick-access documentation for ponytail's three coding modes (Lite, Full, Ultra), four available skills (ponytail, ponytail-review, ponytail-gain, ponytail-help), and activation commands. Developers invoke it when they need syntax reminders or mode explanations without changing state. Key workflows: display the help card, learn deactivation commands, configure default mode via environment variable or config file, and update the plugin via marketplace. --- name: ponytail-help description: "Quick reference for ponytail's modes, skills, and commands. One-shot display." homepage: https://github.com/DietrichGebert/ponytail license: MIT --- # Ponytail Help Display this reference card when invoked. One-shot, do NOT change mode, write flag files, or persist anything. ## Levels | Level | Trigger | What change | |-------|---------|-------------| | **Lite** | `/ponytail lite` | Build what's asked, name the lazier alternative in one line. | | **Full** | `/ponytail` | The ladder enforced: YAGNI → stdlib → native → one line → minimum. | | **Ultra** | `/ponytail ultra` | YAGNI extremist.
- Three lazy-coding modes: Lite (simplest), Full (YAGNI ladder, default), Ultra (deletion-first extremist)
- Four skills: ponytail (core), ponytail-review (over-engineering audit), ponytail-gain (impact scoreboard), ponytail-help
- Stateless one-shot display; does not persist, change mode, or write flags
- Works across Codex (@), Claude Code (slash), and OpenCode (slash) with native command support
- Configure default mode via PONYTAIL_DEFAULT_MODE env var or ~/.config/ponytail/config.json; auto-update via /plugin mark
Ponytail Help by the numbers
- 10,507 all-time installs (skills.sh)
- +1,349 installs in the week ending Aug 5, 2026 (Skillselion tracking)
- Ranked #94 of 3,282 Productivity & Planning skills by installs in the Skillselion catalog
- Security screen: LOW risk (skills.sh audit)
- Data as of Aug 5, 2026 (Skillselion catalog sync)
ponytail-help capabilities & compatibility
- Capabilities
- display modes reference · show skills reference · list commands and syntax · configuration guide · plugin update instructions
- Use cases
- documentation · planning
- Platforms
- macOS · Windows · Linux
- Runs
- Runs locally
- Pricing
- Free
What ponytail-help says it does
Display this reference card when invoked. One-shot, do NOT change mode, write flag files, or persist anything.
Resolution: env var > config file > `full`.
npx skills add https://github.com/dietrichgebert/ponytail --skill ponytail-helpAdd your badge
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| Installs | 10.5k |
|---|---|
| repo stars | ★ 96k |
| Security audit | 3 / 3 scanners passed |
| Last updated | July 15, 2026 |
| Repository | dietrichgebert/ponytail ↗ |
What it does
Reference card for ponytail lazy-coding modes, skills, and command syntax across agents and IDEs.
Who is it for?
Quick syntax lookups, mode clarification, command reference during active work.
Skip if: Changing mode (use /ponytail <mode>), persisting configuration (use config file directly), code generation.
When should I use this skill?
Developer forgets ponytail command syntax, needs mode explanation, or wants deactivation instructions.
What you get
Developer instantly recalls ponytail syntax, mode behaviors, and plugin update steps; reduces friction to adopting lazy-coding discipline.
By the numbers
- 3 lazy-coding modes: Lite, Full (default), Ultra
- 4 skills: ponytail, ponytail-review, ponytail-gain, ponytail-help
Files
Ponytail Help
Display this reference card when invoked. One-shot, do NOT change mode, write flag files, or persist anything.
Levels
| Level | Trigger | What change |
|---|---|---|
| Lite | /ponytail lite | Build what's asked, name the lazier alternative in one line. |
| Full | /ponytail | The ladder enforced: YAGNI → stdlib → native → one line → minimum. Default. |
| Ultra | /ponytail ultra | YAGNI extremist. Deletion before addition. Challenges requirements before building. |
Level sticks until changed or session end.
Skills
| Skill | Trigger | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| ponytail | /ponytail | Lazy mode itself. Simplest solution that works. |
| ponytail-review | /ponytail-review | Over-engineering review: L42: yagni: factory, one product. Inline. |
| ponytail-gain | /ponytail-gain | Measured-impact scoreboard: less code, less cost, more speed. |
| ponytail-help | /ponytail-help | This card. |
Codex uses @ponytail, @ponytail-review, and @ponytail-help; Claude Code and OpenCode use the slash-command forms above (OpenCode ships /ponytail and /ponytail-review).
Deactivate
Say "stop ponytail" or "normal mode". Resume anytime with /ponytail. /ponytail off also works.
Configure Default Mode
Default mode = full, auto-active every session. Change it:
Environment variable (highest priority):
export PONYTAIL_DEFAULT_MODE=ultraConfig file (~/.config/ponytail/config.json, Windows: %APPDATA%\ponytail\config.json):
{ "defaultMode": "lite" }Set "off" to disable auto-activation on session start, activate manually with /ponytail when wanted.
Resolution: env var > config file > full.
Update
Enable auto-update once: open /plugin, go to Marketplaces, pick ponytail, Enable auto-update. Claude Code then pulls new versions at startup (run /reload-plugins when it prompts). Manual refresh: /plugin marketplace update ponytail then /reload-plugins.
If /plugin is not recognized, your Claude Code is out of date. Update it (npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code@latest, or brew upgrade claude-code) and restart. Other hosts use their own update flow.
More
Full docs + examples: https://github.com/DietrichGebert/ponytail
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How do I deactivate ponytail?
Say 'stop ponytail' or 'normal mode', or use `/ponytail off`. Resume anytime with `/ponytail`.
How do I change the default mode from Full to Ultra?
Set environment variable `export PONYTAIL_DEFAULT_MODE=ultra`, or edit `~/.config/ponytail/config.json` with `{"defaultMode":"ultra"}`.
Which agents support ponytail?
Codex (@ponytail), Claude Code (/ponytail), and OpenCode (/ponytail) are explicitly documented; @ponytail and slash forms available depending on platform.
Is Ponytail Help safe to install?
skills.sh reports 3 of 3 security scanners passed. Review the Security Audits panel on this page before installing in production.