Ponytail is an always-on ruleset and plugin for AI coding agents (Claude, Codex, Gemini, Copilot, etc.) that enforces a step-by-step “ladder” to include only necessary code. Benchmarks show 80–94% less code, 3–6× faster responses, and 42–75% lower cost by preferring built-ins and one-liner solutions before adding dependencies.

This project packages four principles—Think Before Coding, Simplicity First, Surgical Changes, and Goal-Driven Execution—into a Claude Code plugin or CLAUDE.md file to curb LLM code pitfalls like overengineering and hidden assumptions. It enforces explicit reasoning, minimal edits, and test-driven success criteria to produce cleaner, more accurate AI-generated code.