rationalize-deps
Analyze Cargo.toml dependencies and attempt to remove unused features to reduce compile times and binary size
Best use case
rationalize-deps is best used when you need a repeatable AI agent workflow instead of a one-off prompt.
Analyze Cargo.toml dependencies and attempt to remove unused features to reduce compile times and binary size
Teams using rationalize-deps should expect a more consistent output, faster repeated execution, less prompt rewriting.
When to use this skill
- You want a reusable workflow that can be run more than once with consistent structure.
When not to use this skill
- You only need a quick one-off answer and do not need a reusable workflow.
- You cannot install or maintain the underlying files, dependencies, or repository context.
Installation
Claude Code / Cursor / Codex
Manual Installation
- Download SKILL.md from GitHub
- Place it in
.claude/skills/rationalize-deps/SKILL.mdinside your project - Restart your AI agent — it will auto-discover the skill
How rationalize-deps Compares
| Feature / Agent | rationalize-deps | Standard Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Platform Support | Not specified | Limited / Varies |
| Context Awareness | High | Baseline |
| Installation Complexity | Unknown | N/A |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this skill do?
Analyze Cargo.toml dependencies and attempt to remove unused features to reduce compile times and binary size
Where can I find the source code?
You can find the source code on GitHub using the link provided at the top of the page.
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SKILL.md Source
# Rationalize Dependencies
This skill analyzes Cargo.toml dependencies to identify and remove unused features.
## Overview
Many crates enable features by default that may not be needed. This skill:
1. Identifies dependencies with default features enabled
2. Tests if `default-features = false` works
3. Identifies which specific features are actually needed
4. Verifies compilation after changes
## Step 1: Identify the target
Ask the user which crate(s) to analyze:
- A specific crate name (e.g., "tokio", "serde")
- A specific workspace member (e.g., "quickwit-search")
- "all" to scan the entire workspace
## Step 2: Analyze current dependencies
For the workspace Cargo.toml (`quickwit/Cargo.toml`), list dependencies that:
- Do NOT have `default-features = false`
- Have default features that might be unnecessary
Run: `cargo tree -p <crate> -f "{p} {f}" --edges features` to see what features are actually used.
## Step 3: For each candidate dependency
### 3a: Check the crate's default features
Look up the crate on crates.io or check its Cargo.toml to understand:
- What features are enabled by default
- What each feature provides
Use: `cargo metadata --format-version=1 | jq '.packages[] | select(.name == "<crate>") | .features'`
### 3b: Try disabling default features
Modify the dependency in `quickwit/Cargo.toml`:
From:
```toml
some-crate = { version = "1.0" }
```
To:
```toml
some-crate = { version = "1.0", default-features = false }
```
### 3c: Run cargo check
Run: `cargo check --workspace` (or target specific packages for faster feedback)
If compilation fails:
1. Read the error messages to identify which features are needed
2. Add only the required features explicitly:
```toml
some-crate = { version = "1.0", default-features = false, features = ["needed-feature"] }
```
3. Re-run cargo check
### 3d: Binary search for minimal features
If there are many default features, use binary search:
1. Start with no features
2. If it fails, add half the default features
3. Continue until you find the minimal set
## Step 4: Document findings
For each dependency analyzed, report:
- Original configuration
- New configuration (if changed)
- Features that were removed
- Any features that are required
## Step 5: Verify full build
After all changes, run:
```bash
cargo check --workspace --all-targets
cargo test --workspace --no-run
```
## Common Patterns
### Serde
Often only needs `derive`:
```toml
serde = { version = "1.0", default-features = false, features = ["derive", "std"] }
```
### Tokio
Identify which runtime features are actually used:
```toml
tokio = { version = "1.0", default-features = false, features = ["rt-multi-thread", "macros", "sync"] }
```
### Reqwest
Often doesn't need all TLS backends:
```toml
reqwest = { version = "0.11", default-features = false, features = ["rustls-tls", "json"] }
```
## Rollback
If changes cause issues:
```bash
git checkout quickwit/Cargo.toml
cargo check --workspace
```
## Tips
- Start with large crates that have many default features (tokio, reqwest, hyper)
- Use `cargo bloat --crates` to identify large dependencies
- Check `cargo tree -d` for duplicate dependencies that might indicate feature conflicts
- Some features are needed only for tests - consider using `[dev-dependencies]` featuresRelated Skills
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