Musk Step 3 Simplify Optimize
Step 3 of the Musk algorithm. Simplify and optimize what survived deletion. Applies to BOTH brownfield (simplify existing survivors) and greenfield (build the simplest thing that works). Use whenever the user wants to optimize performance, refactor code, reduce complexity, improve a DAX measure, tune a query, restructure a pipeline, or choose the simplest viable implementation for a new feature.…
Musk Step 4 Accelerate Cycle Time
Step 4 of the Musk algorithm. Accelerate cycle time on what survived simplification. BROWNFIELD ONLY. Requires an existing, operational process with measurable cycle times. Not applicable to greenfield work where no cycle exists yet. Use whenever the user wants to reduce latency, shorten build/deploy time, speed up an existing pipeline, reduce time-to-insight on an established workflow, or compre…
Musk Algorithm
Apply Elon Musk's 5-step engineering algorithm in strict order. PRIMARY USE CASE is reviewing, auditing, cleaning up, or restructuring existing systems (brownfield work). Trigger on phrases like "clean this up", "optimize this", "we have too many", "should we keep X", "let's automate Y", "this is bloated", "review this architecture", or any request to evaluate or compress an existing system. SECO…
Musk Step 5 Automate
Step 5 of the Musk algorithm. Automate only what survived steps 1 through 4. BROWNFIELD ONLY. Requires the target process to have been operated manually long enough to surface edge cases. Not applicable to greenfield work; for new applications, design for manual operation first, automate later. Use whenever the user wants to automate an existing manual task, build a workflow, create an N8N/Make/Z…
Musk Step 2 Delete Parts
Step 2 of the Musk algorithm. Delete aggressively. PRIMARILY BROWNFIELD - use whenever the user is reviewing an existing system, codebase, process, set of features, dashboard, document collection, or any inventory of accumulated parts. Trigger on phrases like "clean this up", "we have too many", "should we keep", "is this still used", "let's prune", "what can we remove", or any review of accumula…
Musk Step 1 Question Requirements
Step 1 of the Musk algorithm. Question every requirement and demand a named human originator. Applies to BOTH brownfield (reviewing existing requirements) and greenfield (evaluating new requirements before building). Use whenever the user introduces a requirement, constraint, policy, or "we need to" statement. Trigger on phrases like "we need to", "the requirement is", "compliance says", "best pr…