# andrej-karpathy-skills | Jiayuan Zhang | Knowledge Base | Instagit GitHub Stars: 8.4k Repository: https://github.com/forrestchang/andrej-karpathy-skills --- ## Articles ### [How to Reduce Unnecessary Changes in Diffs: Karpathy-Inspired LLM Guidelines](/forrestchang/andrej-karpathy-skills/metrics-indicating-guidelines-reduce-unnecessary-changes-in-diffs) Learn how to reduce unnecessary changes in diffs using Karpathy-inspired LLM guidelines. Enforce surgical edits, simplicity, and clarification to improve code quality. - Tags: best-practices - Published: 2026-04-08 ### [How to Create Test Cases That Reproduce Bugs Before Fixing: A Test-First Workflow](/forrestchang/andrej-karpathy-skills/how-to-create-test-cases-that-reproduce-bugs-before-fixing) Learn to write failing tests that reproduce bugs before fixing them. Implement minimal code changes and establish a regression safety net with this test-first workflow. - Tags: best-practices - Published: 2026-04-08 ### [Orthogonal Edits vs Related Changes: How to Structure Clean Pull Requests](/forrestchang/andrej-karpathy-skills/difference-between-orthogonal-edits-and-related-changes) Learn the difference between orthogonal edits and related changes to structure clean pull requests. Make your code reviews more efficient and maintainable. - Tags: best-practices - Published: 2026-04-08 ### [How the Karpathy Guidelines Prevent Over-Abstraction of Single-Use Code](/forrestchang/andrej-karpathy-skills/how-do-guidelines-address-over-abstraction-of-single-use-code) Learn how Karpathy guidelines prevent over-abstraction of single-use code by enforcing inline implementation until duplication is necessary. Read more! - Tags: best-practices - Published: 2026-04-08 ### [Handling Impossible Error Scenarios: The Karpathy Code Guidelines Pattern](/forrestchang/andrej-karpathy-skills/recommended-pattern-for-handling-impossible-error-scenarios) Handle impossible error scenarios efficiently. Learn Andrej Karpathy's code guideline pattern to fail fast during development and maintain clean production code. Assert for impossible conditions. - Tags: best-practices - Published: 2026-04-08 ### [How to Identify and Surface Hidden Assumptions Before Implementing](/forrestchang/andrej-karpathy-skills/how-to-identify-and-surface-hidden-assumptions-before-implementing) Learn to identify and surface hidden assumptions before implementing. Convert implicit models into clear requirements to prevent coding errors. Improve your development process. - Tags: best-practices - Published: 2026-04-08 ### [Best Approach When User Request Is Vague or Underspecified: 4 Principles from the Andrej Karpathy Guidelines](/forrestchang/andrej-karpathy-skills/best-approach-when-user-request-is-vague-or-underspecified) Master vague user requests with Andrej Karpathy's 4 principles. Uncover assumptions, ask clarifying questions, and define success criteria before coding. - Tags: best-practices - Published: 2026-04-08 ### [Handling Multiple Valid Interceptions of a Request: The Andrej Karpathy Claude Skill Guide](/forrestchang/andrej-karpathy-skills/handling-situations-with-multiple-valid-interpretations-of-a-request) Learn how to handle multiple valid interpretations of requests with the Andrej Karpathy Claude Skill Guide. Avoid assumption-driven development by getting explicit user confirmation. - Tags: how-to-guide - Published: 2026-04-08 ### [When Does Simplicity Become Too Simple? Finding the Threshold for Abstraction](/forrestchang/andrej-karpathy-skills/threshold-for-simplicity-becoming-too-simple-and-needing-abstraction) Discover the threshold where simplicity becomes too simple. Learn when to introduce abstraction to avoid maintenance headaches caused by repetition, changing needs, or testing issues. - Tags: deep-dive - Published: 2026-04-08 ### [Balancing Matching Existing Code Style vs. Improving It: A Surgical Framework](/forrestchang/andrej-karpathy-skills/balancing-matching-existing-code-style-vs-improving-it) Learn how to balance matching existing code style with improving it. Apply a surgical framework for effective, problem-driven refactors that enhance functionality without unnecessary complexity. - Tags: best-practices - Published: 2026-04-08 ### [How to Handle Unused Imports After Code Changes Create Orphans](/forrestchang/andrej-karpathy-skills/proper-way-to-handle-unused-imports-after-changes-create-orphans) Learn to handle unused imports in your code. Safely remove only new orphans after changes and avoid touching existing dead code to maintain code quality. - Tags: how-to-guide - Published: 2026-04-08 ### [Creating Effective Verification Checks for Multi-Step Plans: A Goal-Driven Execution Guide](/forrestchang/andrej-karpathy-skills/creating-effective-verification-checks-for-multi-step-plans) Master effective verification checks for multi-step plans. Define success criteria, write failing tests first, and use regression guards for reliable validation. Learn Goal-Driven Execution now. - Tags: how-to-guide - Published: 2026-04-08 ### [How to Combine Project-Specific Rules with Default Karpathy Guidelines](/forrestchang/andrej-karpathy-skills/how-to-combine-project-specific-rules-with-default-karpathy-guidelines) Easily combine project-specific rules with default Karpathy guidelines. Append a custom markdown section to CLAUDE.md for automated reading by Claude. - Tags: best-practices - Published: 2026-04-08 ### [Recommended Workflow for Bug Fixes Using Test-First Verification](/forrestchang/andrej-karpathy-skills/recommended-workflow-for-bug-fixes-using-test-first-verification) Master bug fixes with a test-first verification workflow. Write failing tests, make simple changes, and confirm your fix without regressions. Improve code quality today. - Tags: best-practices - Published: 2026-04-08 ### [Structuring Multi-Step Tasks with Goal-Driven Execution and Verification: A Complete Guide](/forrestchang/andrej-karpathy-skills/structuring-multi-step-tasks-with-goal-driven-execution-and-verification) Master goal-driven execution and verification to structure multi-step tasks. Break down complex requests into verifiable sub-tasks for LLM-assisted coding workflows. Reduce risk and prevent over-engineering. - Tags: deep-dive - Published: 2026-04-08 ### [How to Debug When LLM Ignores Guidelines: A Step-by-Step Guide to the Karpathy Skills](/forrestchang/andrej-karpathy-skills/how-to-debug-when-llm-ignores-guidelines) Debug when LLM ignores guidelines by verifying the CLAUDE.md plugin and applying the four Karpathy principles. Resolve common issues with clear context and defined success criteria. - Tags: how-to-guide - Published: 2026-04-08 ### [How the Andrej Karpathy Skills Guidelines Handle Edge Cases and Error Scenarios](/forrestchang/andrej-karpathy-skills/how-do-the-guidelines-handle-edge-cases-and-error-scenarios) Discover how Andrej Karpathy skills guidelines address edge cases and error scenarios with verifiable success criteria, not just defensive coding. - Tags: how-to-guide - Published: 2026-04-08 ### [How to Define Success Criteria for Ambiguous Requests: A Goal-Driven Execution Approach](/forrestchang/andrej-karpathy-skills/best-way-to-define-success-criteria-for-ambiguous-requests) Define success criteria for ambiguous requests using the Goal-Driven Execution loop. Convert vague needs into measurable outcomes with this practical approach. - Tags: best-practices - Published: 2026-04-08 ### [How to Prevent LLM from Making Unwanted Changes to Unrelated Code: The Surgical Changes Method](/forrestchang/andrej-karpathy-skills/how-to-prevent-llm-from-making-unwanted-changes-to-unrelated-code) Learn the Surgical Changes method to stop LLMs from altering unrelated code. Keep your codebase clean and focused on requested edits. - Tags: best-practices - Published: 2026-04-08 ### [What Anti-Patterns Does the Simplicity First Principle Target?](/forrestchang/andrej-karpathy-skills/what-anti-patterns-does-the-simplicity-first-principle-target) Discover the six anti-patterns Simplicity First targets: over-engineering premature optimization excessive configurability unnecessary error handling duplicated logic and nested control flow. Learn to code cleaner. - Tags: best-practices - Published: 2026-04-08 ### [How to Add Project-Specific Guidelines to an Existing CLAUDE.md File](/forrestchang/andrej-karpathy-skills/how-to-add-project-specific-guidelines-to-existing-claude-md) Easily customize Claude Code behavior by adding project specific guidelines to your CLAUDE.md file. Discover how to enhance model responses without extra configuration for your projects. - Tags: how-to-guide - Published: 2026-04-08 ### [Plugin Installation vs CLAUDE.md Approach: How to Apply Karpathy Guidelines in Claude Code](/forrestchang/andrej-karpathy-skills/difference-between-plugin-installation-and-claude-md-approach-for-guidelines) Learn the difference between Claude plugin installation and the CLAUDE.md approach for applying Karpathy guidelines globally or project-specifically. Choose the best method for your workflow. - Tags: how-to-guide - Published: 2026-04-08 ### [How to Integrate Karpathy-Guidelines as a Claude Code Plugin: Complete Setup Guide](/forrestchang/andrej-karpathy-skills/how-to-integrate-karpathy-guidelines-as-a-claude-code-plugin) Learn how to integrate karpathy-guidelines as a Claude Code plugin. Follow this guide for a complete setup, choosing marketplace installation or direct file placement. - Tags: how-to-guide - Published: 2026-04-08