code-refactor

name	code-refactor
description	Perform bulk code refactoring operations like renaming variables/functions across files, replacing patterns, and updating API calls. Use when users request renaming identifiers, replacing deprecated code patterns, updating method calls, or making consistent changes across multiple locations.

Code Refactor

Systematic code refactoring across files. Auto-switches to execution mode for 10+ files (90% token savings).

Mode Selection

• 1-9 files: Use native tools (Grep + Edit with replace_all)
• 10+ files: Automatically use code-execution skill

Execution example (50 files):

from api.code_transform import rename_identifier
result = rename_identifier('.', 'oldName', 'newName', '**/*.py')
# Returns: {'files_modified': 50, 'total_replacements': 247}
# ~500 tokens vs ~25,000 tokens traditional

When to Use

• "rename [identifier] to [new_name]"
• "replace all [pattern] with [replacement]"
• "refactor to use [new_pattern]"
• "update all calls to [function/API]"
• "convert [old_pattern] to [new_pattern]"

Core Workflow (Native Mode)

1. Find All Occurrences

Grep(pattern="getUserData", output_mode="files_with_matches")     # Find files
Grep(pattern="getUserData", output_mode="content", -n=true, -B=2, -A=2)  # Verify with context

2. Replace All Instances

Edit(
  file_path="src/api.js",
  old_string="getUserData",
  new_string="fetchUserData",
  replace_all=true
)

3. Verify Changes

Grep(pattern="getUserData", output_mode="files_with_matches")  # Should return none

Workflow Examples

Rename Function

1. Find: Grep(pattern="getUserData", output_mode="files_with_matches")
2. Count: "Found 15 occurrences in 5 files"
3. Replace in each file with replace_all=true
4. Verify: Re-run Grep
5. Suggest: Run tests

Replace Deprecated Pattern

1. Find: Grep(pattern="\\bvar\\s+\\w+", output_mode="content", -n=true)
2. Analyze: Check if reassigned (let) or constant (const)
3. Replace: Edit(old_string="var count = 0", new_string="let count = 0")
4. Verify: npm run lint

Update API Calls

1. Find: Grep(pattern="/api/auth/login", output_mode="content", -n=true)
2. Replace: Edit(old_string="'/api/auth/login'", new_string="'/api/v2/authentication/login'", replace_all=true)
3. Test: Recommend integration tests

Best Practices

Planning:

• Find all instances first
• Review context of each match
• Inform user of scope
• Consider edge cases (strings, comments)

Safe Process:

1. Search → Find all
2. Analyze → Verify appropriate
3. Inform → Tell user scope
4. Execute → Make changes
5. Verify → Confirm applied
6. Test → Suggest running tests

Edge Cases:

• Strings/comments: Ask if should update
• Exported APIs: Warn of breaking changes
• Case sensitivity: Be explicit

Tool Reference

Edit with replace_all:

• replace_all=true: Replace all occurrences
• replace_all=false: Replace only first (or fail if multiple)
• Must match EXACTLY (whitespace, quotes)

Grep patterns:

• -n=true: Show line numbers
• -B=N, -A=N: Context lines
• -i=true: Case-insensitive
• type="py": Filter by file type

Integration

• test-fixing: Fix broken tests after refactoring
• code-transfer: Move refactored code
• feature-planning: Plan large refactorings