About

Imported from shipshitdev/skills (skills/refactor-code/SKILL.md). Install upstream with npx skills add shipshitdev/skills --skill refactor-code. Copyright stays with the author.

Refactor Code

Name: refactor-code
Author: shipshitdev

Improve readability, cohesion, and maintainability without changing behavior.

The code engine of the refactoring vertical (/refactor code). Draws on typescript-refactor for type-architecture work and react-refactor for component architecture. For mechanical AI-slop removal use deslop; for a read-only structural review use structural-review.

Triggers

Function > 50 lines
File > 300 lines
Duplicate code (3+ instances)
Complex conditionals (> 3 levels deep)
any types
Hard to test or understand
Vague naming and mixed responsibilities
Dead abstractions, dead code, or misleading comments

Steps

1. Lock Behavior First

Read existing tests before editing
If behavior is unclear, derive it from current callers and runtime paths
Preserve public contracts unless explicitly asked for API changes

2. Study Local Patterns

Find 3+ similar implementations in the codebase. Match naming, error handling, file structure, and test style. Reuse existing helpers before introducing new abstractions.

3. Refactor for Clarity

Small, incremental changes — one at a time. Prioritize in order:

Better names
Smaller focused functions (extract long methods into helpers)
Clearer control flow
Removing duplication
Removing dead code and misleading comments
Narrowing types and interfaces (replace any with proper types)
Extract constants (replace magic numbers/strings)
Extract service/component (move business logic out of controllers, split large components)

4. Avoid Over-Engineering

Don't introduce patterns just because they're fashionable
Prefer straightforward code over clever indirection
Extract abstractions only when they reduce real duplication or confusion

5. Run Tests After Each Change

bun run test <specific-test-file>

Heuristics

One function should do one job
Names should explain intent, not implementation trivia
Comments should explain why, not restate what the code already says
Conditionals should read top-to-bottom without mental backtracking
Shared logic belongs in one place, but not at the cost of unreadable abstractions

Red Flags (Stop and Reconsider)

Generic names like data, item, temp, helper, util
Boolean parameters that change function meaning
Functions that both fetch, transform, and render
Duplicate validation or mapping logic
Commented-out code or TODOs masking uncertainty
Behavior changes during refactoring
Tests start failing
Need to change public API
Unclear what code does

Checklist

Before starting:

All tests passing
Understand what the code does
Have example pattern to follow
Committed current working code

During:

One change at a time
Tests after each change
Same public API
Document why (not just what)

After:

All tests still passing
No behavior changes
Code is more readable
Performance same or better

Use it

Copy one of these into your project. Installing also returns the manifest and these snippets.

yaml

targets:
  - https://api.opensmartroute.ai/api/v1/registry/shipshitdev-skills-refactor-code/manifest   # or paste the manifest below

Manifest

An Open Capability Manifest: the router reads it to know what this does, what it costs and when to pick it.

shipshitdev-skills-refactor-code.ocm.jsonjson

{
  "ocm": "1",
  "id": "shipshitdev-skills-refactor-code",
  "kind": "skill",
  "name": "refactor-code",
  "description": "Systematic approach to safely refactoring code with tests. Use when user says 'refactor', 'clean up code', 'simplify', 'reduce complexity', or 'technical debt'.",
  "publisher": "shipshitdev",
  "version": "1.0.0",
  "capabilities": {
    "domains": [
      "coding"
    ],
    "tags": [
      "skill-md",
      "refactoring",
      "code-quality",
      "testing",
      "maintenance",
      "clean-code",
      "skills-sh"
    ],
    "languages": [
      "en"
    ]
  },
  "quality_prior": 0.6,
  "examples": [
    "Systematic approach to safely refactoring code with tests. Use when user says 'refactor', 'clean up code', 'simplify', 'reduce complexity', or 'technical debt'."
  ],
  "primary": false,
  "metadata": {
    "source": {
      "provider": "skills.sh",
      "repository": "https://github.com/shipshitdev/skills",
      "path": "skills/refactor-code/SKILL.md",
      "ref": "HEAD",
      "url": "https://github.com/shipshitdev/skills/blob/HEAD/skills/refactor-code/SKILL.md",
      "key": "shipshitdev/skills/skills/refactor-code/SKILL.md"
    }
  },
  "instructions": "# Refactor Code\n\nImprove readability, cohesion, and maintainability without changing behavior.\n\nThe `code` engine of the refactoring vertical (`/refactor code`). Draws on\n`typescript-refactor` for type-architecture work and `react-refactor` for component\narchitecture. For mechanical AI-slop removal use `deslop`; for a read-only structural\nreview use `structural-review`.\n\n## Triggers\n\n- Function > 50 lines\n- File > 300 lines\n- Duplicate code (3+ instances)\n- Complex conditionals (> 3 levels deep)\n- `any` types\n- Hard to test or understand\n- Vague naming and mixed responsibilities\n- Dead abstrac",
  "cost": {
    "context_tokens": 749
  }
}

Fetch it by URL: GET /api/v1/registry/shipshitdev-skills-refactor-code/manifest?version=1.0.0

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