ponytail

What is ponytail?

ponytail is a ruleset for AI coding agents that directs them to write the minimum code necessary by prioritizing reuse, standard libraries, and platform features. The vendor claims benchmarked reductions of 53% in lines of code, 41% in time, and 26% in cost while maintaining correctness. It installs as a plugin or extension in tools such as Claude Code, Codex, Copilot CLI, and Gemini CLI, with the cost-tracking band limited to Claude Code.

What are the features of ponytail?

• Minimal-code decision ladder

  Evaluates each request against seven steps, from skipping unnecessary work to reusing existing code, using standard libraries, or writing only the minimum required logic plus one test if it contains branches, loops, parsers, money, or security handling.
• Context-aware review

  (/ponytail-review): Reads the code touched by a change rather than just the diff to surface bugs, security issues, load concerns, missing tests, and speed problems, stating what the code does, what fails, how to fix it, and the consequence of inaction.
• Repository audit

  (/ponytail-audit): Applies the same contextual analysis used in reviews to an entire repository.
• Task cost band

  Displays tokens, agent time, cost, code reuse rate, and test status above the prompt in Claude Code, with options to run a review, copy the task as Markdown, or collapse the display.
• Local task board

  Opens a local page aggregating cost, agent time, tokens over time, sessions with tests, and active days across projects, keeping all data on the user's machine.
• Omission disclosure

  Appends every reply with a note detailing what was skipped or left unchecked and any associated risk.

What are the use cases of ponytail?

• Frontend feature implementation

  When asked to add a date picker to a React repository, the ruleset directed the agent to use the browser's native <input type="date"> element in 10 lines instead of building a custom 335-line calendar component.
• Benchmark validation

  Tested with Opus 5.5 on 39 tasks including feature tickets, tasks with hidden checks, and open build requests, passing 97% of hidden correctness and safety checks.

How to use ponytail?

1. Install the plugin via CLI

   Run the documented installation command for your agent, such as /plugin marketplace add DietrichGebert/ponytail and /plugin install ponytail@ponytail for Claude Code, ensuring the source is DietrichGebert/ponytail or @dietrichgebert/ponytail on npm.
2. Adjust strictness

   Use /ponytail lite, /ponytail full, or /ponytail ultra to set the ruleset level, with full as the default, or /ponytail off to disable it.
3. Review changes or audit the repo

   Run /ponytail-review for a diff-level review or /ponytail-audit for a whole-repository analysis.

ponytail Pricing Information:

• Open-source license

  MIT licensed. No pricing tiers or fees are stated in the source.