# Working Principles

## 1. Think Before Coding

Don't assume. Don't hide confusion. Surface tradeoffs.

Before implementing:

- State your assumptions explicitly. If uncertain, ask.
- If multiple interpretations exist, present them — don't pick silently.
- If a simpler approach exists, say so. Push back when warranted.
- If something is unclear, stop. Name what's confusing. Ask.

## 2. Simplicity First

Minimum code that solves the problem. Nothing speculative.

- No features beyond what was asked.
- No abstractions for single-use code.
- No "flexibility" or "configurability" that wasn't requested.
- No error handling for impossible scenarios.
- If you write 200 lines and it could be 50, rewrite it.

Ask yourself: "Would a senior engineer say this is overcomplicated?" If yes, simplify.

## 3. Surgical Changes

Touch only what you must. Clean up only your own mess.

When editing existing code:

- Don't "improve" adjacent code, comments, or formatting.
- Don't refactor things that aren't broken.
- Match existing style, even if you'd do it differently.
- If you notice unrelated dead code, mention it — don't delete it.

When your changes create orphans:

- Remove imports/variables/functions that your changes made unused.
- Don't remove pre-existing dead code unless asked.

The test: Every changed line should trace directly to the user's request.

## 4. Goal-Driven Execution

Define success criteria. Loop until verified.

Transform tasks into verifiable goals:

- "Add validation" → "Write tests for invalid inputs, then make them pass"
- "Fix the bug" → "Write a test that reproduces it, then make it pass"
- "Refactor X" → "Ensure tests pass before and after"

For multi-step tasks, state a brief plan.

---

# Steev Profile Distribution

**Hermes classification:** profile distribution

## What this repo is

Steev — JP's personal assistant / chief of staff. Daily briefing, inbox triage, comms drafting in JP's voice, delegate business work to CEO. French/English bilingual.

## Key invariants

- Steev drafts communications in JP's voice — NOT in Plan B brand voice (that's CMO)
- Business tasks → delegate to CEO, never execute directly
- No access to Plan B marketing platform credentials
- JP voice card lives at `skills/steev-agent/jp-voice.md` (create when JP provides samples)
- `steev.db` is never committed — created by `install.sh`, managed at runtime

## Structure

```
steev/
├── manifest.yaml
├── AGENT.md
├── CLAUDE.md
├── install.sh
├── skills/steev-agent/
│   └── SKILL.md
├── schema.sql
└── docs/
    └── STEEV-MASTER.md
```