refactor

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name: refactor description: Behavior-preserving refactor workflow for simplifying logic, extracting smaller functions, consolidating duplication, and improving naming and structure. USE FOR: requests like "refactor", "simplify this module", or "break this function down". DO NOT USE FOR: feature work, speculative rewrites, or dependency-management tasks. argument-hint: "[module, file, class, scripts, tests or function to refactor]"

Refactor Workflow

Use this skill for targeted structural improvement when the goal is cleaner code without changing external behavior.

Refactor Priorities

• Break long functions into smaller helpers when the extraction improves readability.
• Reduce nesting and simplify complex branching.
• Consolidate duplicated logic into shared helpers when the abstraction is actually clearer.
• Standardize names when existing names are misleading or inconsistent.
• Keep the existing architecture unless there is a strong, code-backed reason to change it.

Repo-Specific Rules

• This is a mature production project. Avoid oversimplifying infrastructure.
• Prefer minimal public API change. If an API must change, update all callers and tests in the same pass.
• Use get_logger(__name__) for production logging.
• Use make targets for validation.

Default Validation Flow

make format
make lint
make test-unit

If documentation changes as part of the refactor, also run:

make lint-markdown

Execution Pattern

1. Identify the specific pain points first: length, duplication, naming, or control-flow complexity.
2. Refactor in small, reviewable steps.
3. Preserve behavior while improving structure.
4. Add or update targeted tests if the refactor touches non-trivial logic.
5. Summarize what became simpler and any areas that still deserve a later pass.

Good Prompt Shapes

• Mention the target path or symbol.
• State the main issue if known: long function, duplicate logic, confusing naming, or complex branching.
• Keep the request short; this skill supplies the workflow.

Example Invocations

/refactor mealie_translate/translator.py
/refactor simplify retry logic in mealie_translate/mealie_client.py
/refactor break down long functions in mealie_translate/recipe_processor.py