Optimizing AI Coding Responses with the I-Have-ADHD Plugin

The Breakthrough

The 'I-Have-ADHD' plugin, created by Igri, reformats AI coding agent responses by applying a strict set of 10 rules designed to eliminate conversational filler and prioritize actionable, step-by-step instructions.

What Actually Worked

• Action-First Formatting: The plugin forces the AI to lead with the primary command or code change, bypassing all introductory preambles or explanations.
• Bounded Task Decomposition: Responses are structured into numbered, single-action steps, ensuring that complex tasks are broken down into manageable, atomic units.
• Progress Tracking: The AI is required to restate the current state at the start of each turn, such as "Step 3 of 5 done," which maintains context during long coding sessions.
• Next-Step Anchoring: Every response must conclude with a single, concrete action that the user can complete in under two minutes to reduce friction.
• Constraint Enforcement: The plugin suppresses tangents, caps lists at five items, provides specific time estimates, and removes all closing pleasantries or generic "hope this helps" statements.

Context

Coding agents often default to verbose, polite, and explanatory responses that bury the actual solution within paragraphs of context. This plugin applies principles from the ADHD toolkit to LLM communication, specifically targeting the need for visible progress and limited working memory. By modifying the skill.md file, users can further customize these constraints to suit their specific workflow preferences.

Notable Quotes

• "The models have gotten really good at coding but the way they communicate is still tuned for politeness rather than usefulness."
• "The progress restating and the end with one small next action rules are the real killers here."

Content References

{"type": "tool", "title": "Claude Code", "url": "https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code", "context": "mentioned"}, {"type": "book", "title": "The ADHD Toolkit", "context": "mentioned"}, {"type": "tool", "title": "I-Have-ADHD Plugin", "url": "https://github.com/igri/claude-code-adhd", "context": "reviewed"}