small-diff

name	small-diff
description	Use when a change has become too large, the user worries about extra lines or overengineering, or asks to simplify, reduce scope, avoid unrelated changes, or keep only the necessary diff.
metadata	{"short-description":"Reduce changes to the needed diff"}

Small Diff

Audit and shrink a change until only the useful work remains.

Workflow

1. Inspect the diff.

   • Run git status --short and review the changed files.
   • Use git diff --stat to find noisy files.
   • Separate intended behavior changes from formatting, rewrites, and unrelated edits.

2. Classify the work.

   • Required: needed for the user request.
   • Incidental: harmless but not needed.
   • Risky: broad abstraction, behavior drift, or unrelated cleanup.

3. Trim.

   • Remove incidental and risky edits unless they are required.
   • Prefer existing flags, helpers, and patterns over new cross-tree plumbing.
   • Keep the fix close to the source of the requirement.

4. Recheck.

   • Run targeted checks for the touched surface.
   • Run git diff --check.
   • Explain what was removed and why.

Output

• what changed
• what was cut
• remaining risk
• verification performed