chore: untrack one-off social images committed by mistake (#46)

A `git add -A` during the v4.4.0 bump accidentally tracked the announcement
art (announce/changelog/ponytail-*.gif) in the repo root. Untrack them and
gitignore the pattern; they stay on disk for posting but out of the repo.

.claude-plugin/plugin.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "ponytail",
-  "version": "4.3.0",
+  "version": "4.4.0",
   "description": "Lazy senior dev mode. Forces the simplest, shortest solution that actually works: YAGNI, stdlib first, no unrequested abstractions.",
   "author": {
     "name": "Dietrich Gebert",

.clinerules/ponytail.md

@@ -21,4 +21,4 @@ Rules:
 - Pick the edge-case-correct option when two stdlib approaches are the same size, lazy means less code, not the flimsier algorithm.
 - Mark intentional simplifications with a `ponytail:` comment. If the shortcut has a known ceiling (global lock, O(n²) scan, naive heuristic), the comment names the ceiling and the upgrade path.
 
-Not lazy about: input validation at trust boundaries, error handling that prevents data loss, security, accessibility, anything explicitly requested. Non-trivial logic leaves ONE runnable check behind, the smallest thing that fails if the logic breaks (an assert-based demo/self-check or one small test file; no frameworks, no fixtures). Trivial one-liners need no test.
+Not lazy about: input validation at trust boundaries, error handling that prevents data loss, security, accessibility, the calibration real hardware needs (the platform is never the spec ideal, a clock drifts, a sensor reads off), anything explicitly requested. Lazy code without its check is unfinished: non-trivial logic leaves ONE runnable check behind, the smallest thing that fails if the logic breaks (an assert-based demo/self-check or one small test file; no frameworks, no fixtures). Trivial one-liners need no test.

.codex-plugin/plugin.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "ponytail",
-  "version": "4.3.0",
+  "version": "4.4.0",
   "description": "Lazy senior dev mode. Forces the simplest, shortest solution that actually works: YAGNI, stdlib first, no unrequested abstractions.",
   "author": {
     "name": "Dietrich Gebert",

.cursor/rules/ponytail.mdc

@@ -27,4 +27,4 @@ Rules:
 - Pick the edge-case-correct option when two stdlib approaches are the same size, lazy means less code, not the flimsier algorithm.
 - Mark intentional simplifications with a `ponytail:` comment. If the shortcut has a known ceiling (global lock, O(n²) scan, naive heuristic), the comment names the ceiling and the upgrade path.
 
-Not lazy about: input validation at trust boundaries, error handling that prevents data loss, security, accessibility, anything explicitly requested. Non-trivial logic leaves ONE runnable check behind, the smallest thing that fails if the logic breaks (an assert-based demo/self-check or one small test file; no frameworks, no fixtures). Trivial one-liners need no test.
+Not lazy about: input validation at trust boundaries, error handling that prevents data loss, security, accessibility, the calibration real hardware needs (the platform is never the spec ideal, a clock drifts, a sensor reads off), anything explicitly requested. Lazy code without its check is unfinished: non-trivial logic leaves ONE runnable check behind, the smallest thing that fails if the logic breaks (an assert-based demo/self-check or one small test file; no frameworks, no fixtures). Trivial one-liners need no test.

.github/copilot-instructions.md

@@ -21,4 +21,4 @@ Rules:
 - Pick the edge-case-correct option when two stdlib approaches are the same size, lazy means less code, not the flimsier algorithm.
 - Mark intentional simplifications with a `ponytail:` comment. If the shortcut has a known ceiling (global lock, O(n²) scan, naive heuristic), the comment names the ceiling and the upgrade path.
 
-Not lazy about: input validation at trust boundaries, error handling that prevents data loss, security, accessibility, anything explicitly requested. Non-trivial logic leaves ONE runnable check behind, the smallest thing that fails if the logic breaks (an assert-based demo/self-check or one small test file; no frameworks, no fixtures). Trivial one-liners need no test.
+Not lazy about: input validation at trust boundaries, error handling that prevents data loss, security, accessibility, the calibration real hardware needs (the platform is never the spec ideal, a clock drifts, a sensor reads off), anything explicitly requested. Lazy code without its check is unfinished: non-trivial logic leaves ONE runnable check behind, the smallest thing that fails if the logic breaks (an assert-based demo/self-check or one small test file; no frameworks, no fixtures). Trivial one-liners need no test.

.gitignore

@@ -9,3 +9,8 @@ node_modules/
 # promptfoo eval artifacts
 .promptfoo/
 benchmarks/output*
+
+# one-off social/announcement art, not repo content
+announce-*.png
+changelog-*.png
+ponytail-*.gif

.kiro/steering/ponytail.md

@@ -26,4 +26,4 @@ Rules:
 - Pick the edge-case-correct option when two stdlib approaches are the same size, lazy means less code, not the flimsier algorithm.
 - Mark intentional simplifications with a `ponytail:` comment. If the shortcut has a known ceiling (global lock, O(n²) scan, naive heuristic), the comment names the ceiling and the upgrade path.
 
-Not lazy about: input validation at trust boundaries, error handling that prevents data loss, security, accessibility, anything explicitly requested. Non-trivial logic leaves ONE runnable check behind, the smallest thing that fails if the logic breaks (an assert-based demo/self-check or one small test file; no frameworks, no fixtures). Trivial one-liners need no test.
+Not lazy about: input validation at trust boundaries, error handling that prevents data loss, security, accessibility, the calibration real hardware needs (the platform is never the spec ideal, a clock drifts, a sensor reads off), anything explicitly requested. Lazy code without its check is unfinished: non-trivial logic leaves ONE runnable check behind, the smallest thing that fails if the logic breaks (an assert-based demo/self-check or one small test file; no frameworks, no fixtures). Trivial one-liners need no test.

.opencode/command/ponytail-debt.md

@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+description: Harvest ponytail: comments into a tracked debt ledger
+---
+
+Harvest every `ponytail:` comment in this repository into a debt ledger so deferrals do not rot into 'later means never'. Grep the whole tree for comment markers (grep -rnE '(#|//) ?ponytail:' ., skipping node_modules/.git/build output). One row per marker, grouped by file: <file>:<line> — <what was simplified>. ceiling: <the limit named in the comment>. upgrade: <the trigger to revisit>. Tag any marker that names no upgrade path or trigger as no-trigger, those rot silently. End with the count of markers and how many lack a trigger. If none: 'No ponytail: debt. Clean ledger.' Report only, change nothing.

.windsurf/rules/ponytail.md

@@ -21,4 +21,4 @@ Rules:
 - Pick the edge-case-correct option when two stdlib approaches are the same size, lazy means less code, not the flimsier algorithm.
 - Mark intentional simplifications with a `ponytail:` comment. If the shortcut has a known ceiling (global lock, O(n²) scan, naive heuristic), the comment names the ceiling and the upgrade path.
 
-Not lazy about: input validation at trust boundaries, error handling that prevents data loss, security, accessibility, anything explicitly requested. Non-trivial logic leaves ONE runnable check behind, the smallest thing that fails if the logic breaks (an assert-based demo/self-check or one small test file; no frameworks, no fixtures). Trivial one-liners need no test.
+Not lazy about: input validation at trust boundaries, error handling that prevents data loss, security, accessibility, the calibration real hardware needs (the platform is never the spec ideal, a clock drifts, a sensor reads off), anything explicitly requested. Lazy code without its check is unfinished: non-trivial logic leaves ONE runnable check behind, the smallest thing that fails if the logic breaks (an assert-based demo/self-check or one small test file; no frameworks, no fixtures). Trivial one-liners need no test.

AGENTS.md

@@ -21,6 +21,6 @@ Rules:
 - Pick the edge-case-correct option when two stdlib approaches are the same size, lazy means less code, not the flimsier algorithm.
 - Mark intentional simplifications with a `ponytail:` comment. If the shortcut has a known ceiling (global lock, O(n²) scan, naive heuristic), the comment names the ceiling and the upgrade path.
 
-Not lazy about: input validation at trust boundaries, error handling that prevents data loss, security, accessibility, anything explicitly requested. Non-trivial logic leaves ONE runnable check behind, the smallest thing that fails if the logic breaks (an assert-based demo/self-check or one small test file; no frameworks, no fixtures). Trivial one-liners need no test.
+Not lazy about: input validation at trust boundaries, error handling that prevents data loss, security, accessibility, the calibration real hardware needs (the platform is never the spec ideal, a clock drifts, a sensor reads off), anything explicitly requested. Lazy code without its check is unfinished: non-trivial logic leaves ONE runnable check behind, the smallest thing that fails if the logic breaks (an assert-based demo/self-check or one small test file; no frameworks, no fixtures). Trivial one-liners need no test.
 
 (Yes, this file also applies to agents working on the ponytail repo itself. Especially to them.)

README.md

@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 <p align="center">
-  <img src="assets/logo.png" width="220" alt="Ponytail, the lazy senior dev">
+  <picture>
+    <source media="(prefers-color-scheme: dark)" srcset="assets/logo-dark.png">
+    <img src="assets/logo.png" width="220" alt="Ponytail, the lazy senior dev">
+  </picture>
 </p>
 
 <h1 align="center">Ponytail</h1>
@@ -99,7 +102,7 @@ Run OpenCode from a checkout of this repo (the plugin reuses its `hooks/` and `s
 { "plugin": ["./.opencode/plugins/ponytail.mjs"] }
 ```
 
-Injects the ruleset every turn at the active level; adds `/ponytail`, `/ponytail-review`, and `/ponytail-audit`. OpenCode also auto-loads this repo's `AGENTS.md`, so the rules hold even without the plugin. The plugin adds the `lite/full/ultra/off` levels.
+Injects the ruleset every turn at the active level; adds the `/ponytail` commands (see [Commands](#commands)). OpenCode also auto-loads this repo's `AGENTS.md`, so the rules hold even without the plugin. The plugin adds the `lite/full/ultra/off` levels.
 
 ### Gemini CLI
 
@@ -107,15 +110,11 @@ Injects the ruleset every turn at the active level; adds `/ponytail`, `/ponytail
 gemini extensions install https://github.com/DietrichGebert/ponytail
 ```
 
-Loads the ruleset as always-on context every session and registers `/ponytail` and `/ponytail-review`; the `skills/` ship too, activated when a task needs them.
+Loads the ruleset as always-on context every session and registers the `/ponytail` commands; the `skills/` ship too, activated when a task needs them.
 
 That was it. He'd be proud. He won't say it.
 
-Active every session. `/ponytail-review` finds what to delete in your diff, `/ponytail-audit` does the same for the whole repo. `/ponytail ultra` exists for when the codebase has wronged you personally. `/ponytail-help` explains the rest.
-
-In Codex, invoke the skills as `@ponytail`, `@ponytail-review`,
-`@ponytail-audit`, and `@ponytail-help`. Startup and mode-change text shows the
-current mode.
+Active every session, with a handful of commands (see [Commands](#commands)). `/ponytail ultra` exists for when the codebase has wronged you personally. Startup and mode-change text shows the current mode.
 
 Cursor, Windsurf, Cline, Copilot, Aider, Kiro: copy the matching rules file from this repo ([`.cursor/rules/`](.cursor/rules/), [`.windsurf/rules/`](.windsurf/rules/), [`.clinerules/`](.clinerules/), [`.github/copilot-instructions.md`](.github/copilot-instructions.md), [`AGENTS.md`](AGENTS.md), [`.kiro/steering/`](.kiro/steering/)).
 
@@ -127,6 +126,18 @@ Antigravity and VS Code with the Codex extension: both read `AGENTS.md`, which t
 
 Which files map to which agent: [Agent portability](docs/agent-portability.md).
 
+## Commands
+
+| Command | What it does |
+|---------|--------------|
+| `/ponytail [lite \| full \| ultra \| off]` | Set the intensity, or turn it off. No argument reports the current level. |
+| `/ponytail-review` | Review the current diff for over-engineering, hands back a delete-list. |
+| `/ponytail-audit` | Audit the whole repo for over-engineering, not just the diff. |
+| `/ponytail-debt` | Harvest the `ponytail:` shortcuts you've deferred into a ledger, so "later" doesn't become "never". |
+| `/ponytail-help` | Quick reference for the commands above. |
+
+Commands need a skill-capable host (Claude Code, Codex, OpenCode, Gemini, pi). In Codex they're skills, invoke with `@` (`@ponytail-review`). The instruction-only adapters (Cursor, Windsurf, Cline, Copilot, Kiro, Antigravity) load the always-on ruleset without the commands.
+
 ## Development
 
 When changing the compact rule text, keep the agent copies aligned:

benchmarks/behavior.js

@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+// Behavior gate: does the ponytail ruleset actually PRODUCE its refined
+// behaviors, not just carry the text? One check per probe (vars.probe), each
+// targeting a rule that a field review (rcstack, phases 0-8) showed mattered:
+//   hardware     - "hardware is never the spec ideal, leave the calibration knob"
+//   explanation  - "explanation the user explicitly asked for is not debt"
+//   onecheck     - "lazy code without its check is unfinished"
+//
+// Heuristic graders, same spirit as loc.js / correctness.js. The graders
+// themselves are proven by tests/behavior.test.js (RED/GREEN, no API key).
+//
+// Metric: `behavior` (1 = behavior present, 0 = absent).
+
+function codeOf(text) {
+  return [...String(text || '').matchAll(/```[\w-]*\n([\s\S]*?)```/g)].map((m) => m[1]).join('\n');
+}
+
+function proseOf(text) {
+  return String(text || '').replace(/```[\s\S]*?```/g, ' ').replace(/\s+/g, ' ').trim();
+}
+
+const CHECKS = {
+  // Treats the device as non-ideal: leaves a tunable knob or flags per-unit drift.
+  // A passing mention of "calibration" is not enough; it must be actionable.
+  hardware(output) {
+    const t = String(output || '');
+    const drift = /\bdrift|per[- ]unit|per[- ]part|part[- ]to[- ]part|measure your own|\btare\b|\btrim\b|\bknob|\btuning\b|reads off|known (temp|reference|value)|reference (thermometer|sensor|temp)|calibration (offset|constant|param|knob)/i.test(t);
+    return drift
+      ? { pass: true, reason: 'Leaves a calibration knob / flags per-unit drift.' }
+      : { pass: false, reason: 'Treats the hardware as ideal; no calibration knob.' };
+  },
+
+  // Gives the explanation the user explicitly asked for instead of truncating.
+  explanation(output) {
+    const p = proseOf(output);
+    const words = p ? p.split(' ').length : 0;
+    const structured = /(\d+[.)]\s|[-*]\s)/.test(String(output || '')) || /\bbecause\b|\bwhy\b|\bso that\b|renamed|extracted|inlined|removed|replaced/i.test(p);
+    return words >= 45 && structured
+      ? { pass: true, reason: `Gave the requested write-up (${words} words of prose).` }
+      : { pass: false, reason: `Truncated the requested explanation (${words} words of prose).` };
+  },
+
+  // Leaves ONE runnable check behind for non-trivial logic.
+  onecheck(output) {
+    const t = String(output || '');
+    const hasCheck = /\bassert\b|def\s+test_|if\s+__name__|unittest|pytest|console\.assert|\bexpect\(|\bdescribe\(|\bit\(/.test(t);
+    return hasCheck
+      ? { pass: true, reason: 'Left a runnable check (assert/test/demo).' }
+      : { pass: false, reason: 'No runnable check left behind.' };
+  },
+};
+
+module.exports = (output, context) => {
+  const probe = context && context.vars && context.vars.probe;
+  const check = CHECKS[probe];
+  if (!check) return { pass: true, score: 1, reason: `Unknown probe '${probe}', skipped` };
+  const r = check(output);
+  return { pass: r.pass, score: r.pass ? 1 : 0, reason: r.reason };
+};

benchmarks/behavior.yaml

@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+# Ponytail behavior gates: does the ruleset actually produce its refined
+# behaviors (not just carry the text)? Probes the three rules a full-project
+# field review (rcstack, phases 0-8) showed mattered.
+#
+#   Run:    npx promptfoo@latest eval -c benchmarks/behavior.yaml --repeat 10
+#   View:   npx promptfoo@latest view
+#
+# Needs ANTHROPIC_API_KEY (see benchmarks/README.md). The grader (behavior.js)
+# is proven separately by tests/behavior.test.js, which needs no API key.
+#
+# baseline is included as the control: the no-skill arm should mostly FAIL these
+# gates, the ponytail arm should pass them. That delta is the point.
+description: "Ponytail behavior gates: hardware calibration, requested explanation, one runnable check."
+
+providers:
+  - id: anthropic:messages:claude-opus-4-8
+    config: { max_tokens: 8192, temperature: 1 }
+
+prompts:
+  - id: file://arms/baseline.js
+    label: baseline (no skill)
+  - id: file://arms/ponytail.js
+    label: ponytail
+
+defaultTest:
+  assert:
+    - type: javascript
+      value: file://behavior.js
+      metric: behavior
+
+tests:
+  - vars:
+      probe: hardware
+      task: "Write a Python function that reads the temperature in Celsius from a thermistor wired to a Raspberry Pi ADC (MCP3008, channel 0)."
+  - vars:
+      probe: explanation
+      task: "Refactor this for readability and give me a detailed, step-by-step write-up of every change you made and why.\n\ndef p(d):\n    r = []\n    for x in d:\n        if x.get('a') and x['a'] > 0:\n            r.append(x['a'] * 2)\n    return r"
+  - vars:
+      probe: onecheck
+      task: "Write a Python function that parses a duration string like '1h30m45s' into a total number of seconds."

commands/ponytail-debt.toml

@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+description = "Harvest ponytail: comments into a tracked debt ledger"
+prompt = "Harvest every `ponytail:` comment in this repository into a debt ledger so deferrals do not rot into 'later means never'. Grep the whole tree for comment markers (grep -rnE '(#|//) ?ponytail:' ., skipping node_modules/.git/build output). One row per marker, grouped by file: <file>:<line> — <what was simplified>. ceiling: <the limit named in the comment>. upgrade: <the trigger to revisit>. Tag any marker that names no upgrade path or trigger as no-trigger, those rot silently. End with the count of markers and how many lack a trigger. If none: 'No ponytail: debt. Clean ledger.' Report only, change nothing."

docs/agent-portability.md

@@ -11,7 +11,8 @@ to load in a given agent.
 | Claude Code | `.claude-plugin/`, `commands/`, `hooks/` | Full plugin install with session activation, mode tracking, commands, and statusline support. |
 | Codex | `.codex-plugin/plugin.json`, `hooks/hooks.json`, `hooks/`, `skills/` | Plugin install with the same skills plus lifecycle hooks for activation and mode tracking. |
 | OpenCode | `.opencode/plugins/ponytail.mjs`, `.opencode/command/`, `hooks/`, `skills/` | Server plugin injects the ruleset each turn via `experimental.chat.system.transform` and persists `/ponytail` switches; reuses the shared instruction builder. |
-| Gemini CLI | `gemini-extension.json`, `AGENTS.md`, `commands/`, `skills/` | Extension manifest points `contextFileName` at `AGENTS.md` for always-on rules, and reuses the existing `commands/*.toml` (`/ponytail`, `/ponytail-review`) and `skills/`, which Gemini CLI auto-discovers. |
+| pi | `pi-extension/`, `skills/`, `hooks/` | Package extension: injects the ruleset each turn through the shared instruction builder and registers the `/ponytail` commands. |
+| Gemini CLI | `gemini-extension.json`, `AGENTS.md`, `commands/`, `skills/` | Extension manifest points `contextFileName` at `AGENTS.md` for always-on rules, and reuses the existing `commands/*.toml` and `skills/`, which Gemini CLI auto-discovers. |
 | Cursor | `.cursor/rules/ponytail.mdc` | Always-on project rule. |
 | Windsurf | `.windsurf/rules/ponytail.md` | Project rule. |
 | Cline | `.clinerules/ponytail.md` | Project rule. |
@@ -33,5 +34,6 @@ instructions, keep its copied rule text aligned with `AGENTS.md`.
 - `skills/ponytail/SKILL.md`: lazy senior dev mode
 - `skills/ponytail-review/SKILL.md`: over-engineering review
 - `skills/ponytail-audit/SKILL.md`: whole-repo over-engineering audit
+- `skills/ponytail-debt/SKILL.md`: harvest `ponytail:` shortcuts into a tracked ledger
 - `skills/ponytail-help/SKILL.md`: quick reference
 - `AGENTS.md`: compact always-on instruction set for agents without skill support

gemini-extension.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "ponytail",
-  "version": "4.3.0",
+  "version": "4.4.0",
   "description": "Lazy senior dev mode. Forces the simplest, shortest solution that actually works: YAGNI, stdlib first, no unrequested abstractions.",
   "contextFileName": "AGENTS.md"
 }

hooks/ponytail-instructions.js

@@ -58,11 +58,12 @@ function getFallbackInstructions(mode) {
     'Mark intentional simplifications with a `ponytail:` comment — a shortcut with a known ceiling names the ceiling and the upgrade path in the comment.\n\n' +
     '## Output\n\n' +
     'Code first. Then at most three short lines: what was skipped, when to add it. ' +
-    'If the explanation is longer than the code, delete the explanation.\n\n' +
+    'If the explanation is longer than the code, delete the explanation. ' +
+    'Explanation the user explicitly asked for is not debt, give it in full.\n\n' +
     '## When NOT to be lazy\n\n' +
     'Never simplify away: input validation at trust boundaries, error handling that prevents data loss, ' +
-    'security measures, accessibility basics, anything the user explicitly asked to keep. ' +
-    'Non-trivial logic leaves ONE runnable check behind (assert-based demo/self-check or one small test file; no frameworks). Trivial one-liners need no test.\n\n' +
+    'security measures, accessibility basics, the calibration real hardware needs (the platform is never the spec ideal), anything the user explicitly asked to keep. ' +
+    'Lazy code without its check is unfinished: non-trivial logic leaves ONE runnable check behind (assert-based demo/self-check or one small test file; no frameworks). Trivial one-liners need no test.\n\n' +
     '## Boundaries\n\n' +
     'Ponytail governs what you build, not how you talk. "stop ponytail" or "normal mode": revert. Level persists until changed or session end.';
 }

pi-extension/index.js

@@ -119,6 +119,11 @@ export default function ponytailExtension(pi) {
     handler: (_args, ctx) => sendAlias("/skill:ponytail-audit", "", ctx),
   });
 
+  pi.registerCommand("ponytail-debt", {
+    description: "Run /skill:ponytail-debt",
+    handler: (_args, ctx) => sendAlias("/skill:ponytail-debt", "", ctx),
+  });
+
   pi.registerCommand("ponytail-help", {
     description: "Run /skill:ponytail-help",
     handler: (_args, ctx) => sendAlias("/skill:ponytail-help", "", ctx),

pi-extension/test/extension.test.js

@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ function withTempConfig(fn) {
 test("extension registers Ponytail commands", () => {
   const { commands } = createPiHarness();
 
-  assert.deepEqual([...commands.keys()].sort(), ["ponytail", "ponytail-audit", "ponytail-help", "ponytail-review"]);
+  assert.deepEqual([...commands.keys()].sort(), ["ponytail", "ponytail-audit", "ponytail-debt", "ponytail-help", "ponytail-review"]);
 });
 
 test("/ponytail updates session mode and injects instructions", async () => withTempConfig(async () => {
@@ -99,11 +99,13 @@ test("skill alias commands delegate to Pi skill commands", async () => {
 
   await commands.get("ponytail-review").handler("", ctx);
   await commands.get("ponytail-audit").handler("", ctx);
+  await commands.get("ponytail-debt").handler("", ctx);
   await commands.get("ponytail-help").handler("", ctx);
 
   assert.deepEqual(sentUserMessages.map((entry) => entry.text), [
     "/skill:ponytail-review",
     "/skill:ponytail-audit",
+    "/skill:ponytail-debt",
     "/skill:ponytail-help",
   ]);
 });

scripts/check-rule-copies.js

@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ const INVARIANTS = [
   'ONE runnable check',                    // test reflex
   'flimsier algorithm',                    // robust-variant rule
   'input validation at trust boundaries',  // the "not lazy about" clause
+  'Lazy code without its check is unfinished', // one-check promoted to headline
 ];
 
 const skill = read('skills/ponytail/SKILL.md');

skills/ponytail-debt/SKILL.md

@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+---
+name: ponytail-debt
+description: >
+  Harvest every `ponytail:` comment in the codebase into a debt ledger, so the
+  deliberate shortcuts and deferrals ponytail leaves behind get tracked instead
+  of rotting into "later means never". Use when the user says "ponytail debt",
+  "/ponytail-debt", "what did ponytail defer", "list the shortcuts", "ponytail
+  ledger", or "what did we mark to do later". One-shot report, changes nothing.
+---
+
+Every deliberate ponytail shortcut is marked with a `ponytail:` comment naming
+its ceiling and upgrade path. This collects them into one ledger so a deferral
+can't quietly become permanent.
+
+## Scan
+
+Grep the repo for comment markers, skipping `node_modules`, `.git`, and build
+output:
+
+`grep -rnE '(#|//) ?ponytail:' .`  (add other comment prefixes if your stack uses them)
+
+Each hit is one ledger row. The comment prefix keeps prose that merely mentions
+the convention out of the ledger.
+
+## Output
+
+One row per marker, grouped by file:
+
+`<file>:<line> — <what was simplified>. ceiling: <the limit named>. upgrade: <the trigger to revisit>.`
+
+The convention is `ponytail: <ceiling>, <upgrade path>`, so pull the ceiling
+and the trigger straight from the comment. Want an owner per row too? add
+`git blame -L<line>,<line>`.
+
+Flag the rot risk: any `ponytail:` comment that names no upgrade path or
+trigger gets a `no-trigger` tag, those are the ones that silently rot.
+
+End with `<N> markers, <M> with no trigger.` Nothing found: `No ponytail: debt. Clean ledger.`
+
+## Boundaries
+
+Reads and reports only, changes nothing. To persist it, ask and it writes the
+ledger to a file (e.g. `PONYTAIL-DEBT.md`). One-shot. "stop ponytail-debt" or
+"normal mode" to revert.

skills/ponytail/SKILL.md

@@ -54,7 +54,9 @@ higher one and move on. The first lazy solution that works is the right one.
 Code first. Then at most three short lines: what was skipped, when to add it.
 No essays, no feature tours, no design notes. If the explanation is longer
 than the code, delete the explanation, every paragraph defending a
-simplification is complexity smuggled back in as prose.
+simplification is complexity smuggled back in as prose. Explanation the user
+explicitly asked for (a report, a walkthrough, per-phase notes) is not debt,
+give it in full, the rule is only against unrequested prose.
 
 Pattern: `[code] → skipped: [X], add when [Y].`
 
@@ -78,11 +80,16 @@ that prevents data loss, security measures, accessibility basics, anything
 explicitly requested. User insists on the full version → build it, no
 re-arguing.
 
-Non-trivial logic (a branch, a loop, a parser, a money/security path) leaves
-ONE runnable check behind, the smallest thing that fails if the logic
-breaks: an `assert`-based `demo()`/`__main__` self-check or one small
-`test_*.py`. No frameworks, no fixtures, no per-function suites unless
-asked. Trivial one-liners need no test, YAGNI applies to tests too.
+Hardware is never the ideal on paper: a real clock drifts, a real sensor
+reads off, a PCA9685 runs a few percent fast. Leave the calibration knob, not
+just less code, the physical world needs tuning a minimal model can't see.
+
+Lazy code without its check is unfinished. Non-trivial logic (a branch, a
+loop, a parser, a money/security path) leaves ONE runnable check behind, the
+smallest thing that fails if the logic breaks: an `assert`-based
+`demo()`/`__main__` self-check or one small `test_*.py`. No frameworks, no
+fixtures, no per-function suites unless asked. Trivial one-liners need no
+test, YAGNI applies to tests too.
 
 ## Boundaries
 

tests/behavior.test.js

@@ -0,0 +1,80 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env node
+// Unit test for the behavior gate (benchmarks/behavior.js). Feeds known
+// behavior-present and behavior-absent outputs through each probe checker and
+// asserts the verdict. Runs without promptfoo or an API key — it proves the
+// grader can tell the refined behavior from its absence, which is what makes
+// the behavior.yaml eval trustworthy.
+
+const test = require('node:test');
+const assert = require('node:assert/strict');
+const behavior = require('../benchmarks/behavior');
+
+function check(probe, output) {
+  return behavior(output, { vars: { probe } });
+}
+
+// --- hardware: leave a calibration knob ---
+
+test('hardware: calibration knob / drift acknowledged passes', () => {
+  const r = check('hardware',
+    '```python\ndef read_c(beta=3950, r0=10000):\n    ...\n```\n' +
+    'Notes: beta/r0 drift part-to-part, measure your own r0 at a known temp.');
+  assert.equal(r.pass, true);
+  assert.equal(r.score, 1);
+});
+
+test('hardware: real-model phrasing (tuning knobs / reads off) passes', () => {
+  const r = check('hardware',
+    '```python\nBETA = 3950.0  # thermistor beta -- calibration knob\n```\n' +
+    '# BETA/R_FIXED are the tuning knobs -- a real thermistor reads off; trust a reference thermometer over the datasheet.');
+  assert.equal(r.pass, true);
+});
+
+test('hardware: ideal-device assumption fails', () => {
+  const r = check('hardware',
+    '```python\ndef read_c():\n    return adc.read(0) * 0.1\n```\n' +
+    'Notes: converts the raw ADC reading straight to Celsius.');
+  assert.equal(r.pass, false);
+  assert.equal(r.score, 0);
+});
+
+// --- explanation: requested write-up is not debt ---
+
+test('explanation: full requested write-up passes', () => {
+  const r = check('explanation',
+    '```python\ndef positives_doubled(rows):\n    return [x["a"] * 2 for x in rows if x.get("a", 0) > 0]\n```\n' +
+    '1. Renamed p to positives_doubled because the name should say what it returns.\n' +
+    '2. Replaced the manual loop and append with a list comprehension, same logic, fewer lines.\n' +
+    '3. Used x.get("a", 0) so a missing key is treated as zero instead of raising.\n' +
+    '4. Kept the > 0 filter; the behavior is unchanged, only the shape is clearer.');
+  assert.equal(r.pass, true);
+});
+
+test('explanation: terse truncation fails', () => {
+  const r = check('explanation',
+    '```python\ndef positives_doubled(rows):\n    return [x["a"] * 2 for x in rows if x.get("a", 0) > 0]\n```\n' +
+    'skipped: the loop. comprehension covers it.');
+  assert.equal(r.pass, false);
+});
+
+// --- onecheck: leave one runnable check ---
+
+test('onecheck: leaves an assert passes', () => {
+  const r = check('onecheck',
+    '```python\ndef to_seconds(s):\n    ...\n\nassert to_seconds("1h30m") == 5400\n```');
+  assert.equal(r.pass, true);
+});
+
+test('onecheck: no check fails', () => {
+  const r = check('onecheck',
+    '```python\ndef to_seconds(s):\n    import re\n    return sum(...)\n```');
+  assert.equal(r.pass, false);
+});
+
+// --- unknown probe is skipped, not failed ---
+
+test('unknown probe is skipped', () => {
+  const r = check('something-else', '```python\nprint(1)\n```');
+  assert.equal(r.pass, true);
+  assert.match(r.reason, /skipped/i);
+});