---
name: feedback_simplest_solution_first
description: Always try the simplest solution to a problem first; escalate to complex only as needed
metadata:
  type: feedback
---

Always START with the simplest solution that could solve the problem. Confirm it works, then
graduate to more advanced/complicated approaches only as the simple one proves insufficient.

**Why:** Mike watched a "ask the UDM what IP it thinks VWP-QBS is" turn balloon into vault
reads, plink host-key pinning, and password sanity checks — when the clean answer was a single
`nslookup vwp-qbs.vwp.us 172.16.9.1` from a machine already on the VPN. The heavy path burned
tokens and his patience ("incapable of doing things cleanly like a week ago"). Now a standing
CLAUDE.md core rule.

**How to apply:** Before picking tooling, ask "what is the least-complex thing that answers
this?" — one DNS lookup, one API call, one command. Do that first and observe the result.
Only reach for SSH/plink/double-hops/multi-step orchestration when the simple probe genuinely
can't answer. Escalate deliberately, not by default. See [[feedback_verify_live_before_acting]].
