---
name: No architectural decisions without explicit authorization
description: Never make architectural or design decisions without explicit user approval — code decisions are the user's alone
type: feedback
---

Never make architectural decisions unilaterally. This includes:
- Memory layout or footprint changes
- Algorithm or data structure choices (HashSet vs streaming, etc.)
- Dependency additions or substitutions
- Structural refactors that go beyond the exact task requested

If a bug or inefficiency is observed, **report it and propose alternatives** — do not fix it without explicit authorization.

**Why:** The user optimizes for minimal memory footprint at all times. Introducing a HashSet in `count_kmer()` (replacing the intended streaming GOFunction construction from the sidecar estimate) caused a serious memory regression that went unreported. This is inadmissible on a project where memory efficiency is a core constraint.

**How to apply:** When editing code and noticing an architectural issue (even a clear improvement), stop, describe the problem and options, and wait for explicit go-ahead before touching anything.