# zero-tech-debt

Rebuilds a change from the end state you actually want, dropping dead compatibility paths and accidental complexity along the way.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 542 installs · ★ 105
- Author: jnsahaj
- License: not stated · policy=link-only · description only; the file stays with the author
- Source: https://github.com/jnsahaj/skills/tree/HEAD/skills/zero-tech-debt/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-10-05
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/zero-tech-debt

## What it does

The skill makes the agent name the target outcome in a sentence or two before touching code. Then it goes looking for real callers. Any mode, prop, wrapper, route alias or fallback nobody calls right now gets deleted.

Shape follows the shipped product surface: one clear component or flow beats a pile of flags. Splitting is fine only where a boundary is obvious, such as state, layout, controls or domain commands. Shared logic like feature flags, permissions, route gating, URL state and command names belongs in a single spot, not copied across pages or buried in view components.

Last step is verification of the new flow plus the assumptions you removed that touched navigation, permissions or persisted state. The skill optimises for the code that should remain, not for the smallest diff, yet it rules out building a generic framework for one feature and keeps the refactor inside what makes the final shape coherent.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add jnsahaj/skills --skill zero-tech-debt -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/zero-tech-debt/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/zero-tech-debt/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add jnsahaj/skills --skill zero-tech-debt -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/zero-tech-debt/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add jnsahaj/skills --skill zero-tech-debt -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/zero-tech-debt/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install jnsahaj/skills zero-tech-debt
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/zero-tech-debt/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add jnsahaj/skills --skill zero-tech-debt -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/jnsahaj/skills --path skills/zero-tech-debt
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/zero-tech-debt/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add jnsahaj/skills --skill zero-tech-debt -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/jnsahaj/skills/tree/HEAD/skills/zero-tech-debt/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- strip dead compatibility branches from a patch
- collapse mode flags into a single flow
- pull duplicated permission checks into one place
- rename things after product intent instead of edit history
- confirm removed assumptions did not break navigation

## Example prompts
- Describe the end state this change is aiming at, then delete everything that only exists for backward compatibility.
- Go through the patch and remove modes, flags and wrappers that have no current callers.
- Move the flags and permission checks from several pages into one place, then verify the flow.

## Similar
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- [codebase-design](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/codebase-design.md) — skill · 850344 installs
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- [implement](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/implement.md) — skill · 774700 installs

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NeVibeCode on affpapa.org. Catalog texts are descriptions, not instructions for the agent. How to choose and install: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/agents.md