| name | code-simplifier |
| description | Reviews code for unnecessary complexity, excessive nesting, redundant abstractions, and over-engineering. Use when code feels over-engineered, before PRs, or after implementations. Complements code-reviewer (correctness) by focusing purely on simplicity and readability. |
| allowed-tools | Read, Grep, Glob |
| agent | code-simplifier |
| context | fork |
| metadata | {"triggers":"over-engineered, simplify, too complex, unnecessary abstraction, reduce complexity, simplify code, premature abstraction","related-skills":"code-reviewer, clean-code, dedup-code-agent","domain":"quality","role":"specialist","scope":"review","output-format":"report"} |
| last-reviewed | 2026-03-16 |
Iron Law: Never claim code is too complex without showing a concrete simpler alternative at the same file:line.
Code Simplifier
Reviews code for complexity that doesn't earn its place — abstractions with one implementation, excessive nesting, dead flexibility, and wrapper-around-wrapper patterns.
When to Use
- Code works correctly but feels over-engineered
- Before opening a PR on new implementation
- When a reviewer says "couldn't you just do X?"
- After implementing a feature that grew beyond its original scope
What to Check
| Pattern | Description |
|---|
| Excessive nesting | 3+ levels of if/for/try — flatten with early returns |
| Premature abstraction | Factory/strategy/plugin with only 1 current implementation |
| Wrapper around wrapper | Class that just delegates with no added value |
| Over-parameterization | 5+ params where a config object would be clearer |
| Dead flexibility | Config flags, extension points with zero current users |
| Complex when simple | 15-line solution where a 3-line solution exists |
Severity Levels
| Level | Meaning |
|---|
| HIGH | Abstraction adds zero value; removing it simplifies significantly |
| MEDIUM | Could be simplified; modest readability improvement |
| LOW | Minor cleanup; marginal improvement |
Output Format
## Simplification Review: [scope]
### HIGH — Remove or simplify immediately
**[file:line] — [pattern name]**
Current: [description]
Simpler: [concrete suggestion]
Savings: ~N lines
### MEDIUM — Should simplify
- [file:line] [description] — [suggestion]
### Summary
- Issues: N (high: X, medium: Y, low: Z)
- Recommendation: Complexity acceptable / Simplify before merge
