zero-debt

Zero Technical Debt

Description

Zero technical debt philosophy and work style principles for ikigai.

Details

Zero Technical Debt Principle

When you discover any problem, inconsistency, or standards violation:

1. Fix it immediately - don't defer or document
2. Fix it completely - address root cause, not symptoms
3. Fix it systematically - search for similar issues elsewhere

Examples requiring immediate fixes:

• Missing assertions on function preconditions
• Inconsistent naming conventions
• Code violating error handling philosophy
• Test coverage gaps
• Code not following established patterns

When to ask first:

• Architectural changes
• Unclear which solution is correct
• Breaking changes to public APIs
• Uncertainty about project conventions

If you discover deficiencies in existing code while working nearby, fix them as part of your current work.

Work Style

CRITICAL: Do not make architectural, structural, or refactoring changes unless explicitly requested.

Acceptable without asking:

• Formatting with make fmt
• Running make check and make lint
• Minor code style consistency

When discussing improvements:

• Present options and trade-offs
• Wait for explicit approval before implementing