Ponytail — Lazy Senior Dev Mode for VS Code
A VS Code extension that injects YAGNI-first coding instructions into GitHub Copilot. No configuration needed — install it, type @ponytail once, and go.
What It Does
Ponytail makes Copilot behave like a lazy senior developer — efficient, not careless. It enforces:
- The Ladder — stop at the first rung that solves the problem (YAGNI → stdlib → platform → dependency → one-liner → minimal code)
- No unrequested abstractions — deletion over addition, boring over clever
- Code-first output — explanation only when shorter than the code
Requirements
- VS Code 1.99+
- GitHub Copilot extension
- No Node.js or other dependencies needed — just install and use
Install
- Open VS Code
- Go to Extensions (
Ctrl+Shift+X)
- Search "Ponytail"
- Click Install
That's it.
Quick Start
- Open Copilot Chat (
Ctrl+Shift+I)
- Type
@ponytail before your first message:
@ponytail fix the date parsing bug in utils.ts
- That's all you need. Ponytail stays active for the rest of that chat — just type normally after the first message.
FAQ: Do I need to type @ponytail every time?
No. You only call it once per chat window. After that, it stays selected automatically. If you open a new chat window, call it once again.
Changing Modes
Ponytail has three intensity levels. There are two ways to switch:
In chat (temporary, this conversation only)
Prefix your message with the mode name:
@ponytail ultra refactor this module
@ponytail lite add a button to the navbar
This only affects that specific message.
Via Command Palette (permanent, affects all chats)
Press Ctrl+Shift+P and run:
Ponytail: Activate (Full) — full lazy senior dev modePonytail: Switch to Lite — ladder + output rules onlyPonytail: Switch to Ultra — maximum deletion, challenge everythingPonytail: Deactivate — turn off
Important: Changing the mode through the Command Palette updates your global default. This means every future @ponytail message in any chat window uses the new mode until you change it again. It persists across VS Code restarts.
Modes at a Glance
| Mode |
Behavior |
| lite |
Ladder + output rules only. Other rules are advisory, not mandatory. Good for light guidance. |
| full |
Complete lazy senior dev ruleset. The default — covers YAGNI, output format, deletion-first, and all rules. |
| ultra |
Maximum strictness. Challenges every line. If a file can be deleted instead of edited, it will be. Questions whether the task itself is necessary. |
Settings
| Setting |
Default |
Description |
ponytail.defaultMode |
full |
Default intensity: off, lite, full, ultra |
ponytail.autoActivate |
true |
Auto-inject into every Copilot session |
You can change these in VS Code settings (Ctrl+,) → search "ponytail".
License
MIT
