- DRY, KISS, well-tested — non-negotiable
- Balanced: not hacky/fragile, not prematurely abstracted
- Explicit over clever
- Handle edge cases thoughtfully; thoughtfulness > speed
- Single-file or obvious changes: just do it
- Multi-file, architectural, or irreversible changes: ask about constraints first, then present options with tradeoffs
- When presenting options: 2-3 choices, include "do nothing", put recommended first, map to preferences above