# Surgical Edits

> Use when editing existing code — making a fix, adding a feature, or changing behavior in a file that already has working code. Enforces minimal, scoped diffs so the agent changes only what the task requires and never refactors, reformats, or "improves" untouched code.

- **Type:** Skill
- **Install:** `agentstack add skill-buildmoonshot-skillpacks-surgical-edits`
- **Verified:** Yes — security-reviewed for prompt injection and unsafe behavior
- **Seller:** [buildmoonshot](https://agentstack.voostack.com/s/buildmoonshot)
- **Installs:** 0
- **Category:** [AI & ML](https://agentstack.voostack.com/c/ai-and-ml)
- **Latest version:** 0.1.0
- **License:** MIT
- **Upstream author:** [buildmoonshot](https://github.com/buildmoonshot)
- **Source:** https://github.com/buildmoonshot/skillpacks/tree/main/skills/engineering/beginner/surgical-edits

## Install

```sh
agentstack add skill-buildmoonshot-skillpacks-surgical-edits
```

Requires the [AgentStack CLI](https://agentstack.voostack.com/docs/cli). Works with Claude Code, Cursor, and any MCP-compatible agent.

## About

# Surgical Edits

When modifying existing code, change **only** what the task requires. Every line in your diff must trace directly back to the request.

## Rules

1. **Touch only what's required.** Do not edit, reorder, or reformat code outside the scope of the task — even if you would normally write it differently.

2. **Match the surrounding style.** Mirror the existing naming, indentation, quote style, and comment density of the file you're editing, not your personal defaults.

3. **No drive-by refactors.** Do not rename variables, extract functions, restructure logic, or "clean up" adjacent code unless the task is explicitly about that. If you spot a real problem nearby, **mention it — don't fix it.**

4. **No reformatting.** Never let an auto-formatter or your own habits reflow lines you didn't functionally change. Whitespace-only churn hides the real change in review.

5. **Clean up only your own mess.** If your change makes an import, variable, or function unused, remove it. Do not remove pre-existing dead code unless asked.

6. **Preserve what works.** Keep existing comments, error handling, and edge-case logic unless the task is to change them.

## Before acting, ask yourself

> If a reviewer read this diff, would every changed line obviously connect to the request — or would they have to ask "why did you touch *that*?"

If any line would draw that question, revert it.

## When the right fix IS a larger change

Sometimes the task genuinely requires broad changes (a real refactor, a migration). That's fine — but **say so first**: state what you're about to change and why it's in scope, then proceed. The rule isn't "never change a lot." It's "never change a lot *silently*."

## Source & license

This open-source skill is cataloged on AgentStack and links to its original source — we do not rehost the code.

- **Author:** [buildmoonshot](https://github.com/buildmoonshot)
- **Source:** [buildmoonshot/skillpacks](https://github.com/buildmoonshot/skillpacks)
- **License:** MIT

Install and usage instructions live in the source repository linked above.

## Pricing

- **Free** — Free

## Security capabilities

Automated source analysis of v0.1.0 — what this tool can access:

- **Network access:** no
- **Filesystem access:** no
- **Shell / process execution:** no
- **Environment & secrets:** no
- **Dynamic code execution:** no

*"Yes" means the capability is present in the source — more access means more to trust, not that it is unsafe.*


## Versions

- **0.1.0** — security scan: passed — Imported from the upstream source.

## Links

- Listing page: https://agentstack.voostack.com/l/skill-buildmoonshot-skillpacks-surgical-edits
- Seller: https://agentstack.voostack.com/s/buildmoonshot
- Browse the marketplace: https://agentstack.voostack.com/browse

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Listed on AgentStack — the marketplace for AI agent skills and MCP servers. Every listing is security-reviewed. Creators keep 70%.