| name | serena-refactor |
| description | This skill should be used when the user asks to "rename function",
"refactor code", "rename symbol across codebase", "change function signature",
"restructure code safely", or mentions Serena's rename_symbol or
replace_symbol_body tools.
|
Serena Safe Refactoring
Cross-Codebase Rename
rename_symbol(old_name="calcTax", new_name="calculate_tax")
- Updates ALL references automatically
- Works across files
- Handles imports/exports
Replace Function Body
replace_symbol_body(symbol_name="process_payment", new_body="...")
- Preserves function signature
- Safer than text replacement
- Maintains formatting
Pre-Refactoring Checklist
-
Check impact:
find_referencing_symbols("function_to_change")
Review all affected locations before changing.
-
Verify tests exist:
find_symbol("test_function_to_change")
-
Run tests after:
pytest tests/test_module.py -v
Common Patterns
Rename Function
find_referencing_symbols("old_name") # Check impact
rename_symbol(old_name="old_name", new_name="new_name")
# Run tests
Replace Implementation
find_symbol("function_name", include_body=true) # See current
replace_symbol_body("function_name", new_body="...")
# Run tests
Safety Notes
- Always check references before renaming
- Run tests after each refactoring step
- Document patterns in Serena memory for future reference
