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Absolute Prune
Cut dead growth from the repo: unused dependencies, unreferenced exports, unreachable code,
orphaned files. Evidence-based — every removal is backed by a tool that proves nothing
references it — applied in safe waves with tests green after each.
Runs the shared engine in references/health-engine.md — read it for the
DETECT → SCAN → TRIAGE → FIX → VERIFY → REPORT loop and the safety contract. This file
covers only what's specific to pruning.
When to use
- "Remove dead code", "clean up unused deps", "what can we delete?".
- Bundle/install bloat from packages nothing imports anymore.
- Post-refactor orphans: files and exports left behind after a feature was rerouted.
prune vs simplify: simplify polishes your working git diff. prune sweeps the
whole committed repo for things that are dead repo-wide. Use simplify mid-change;
prune as standing cleanup on green main.
What it scans
Dead dependencies — declared but never imported (and missing deps that are imported but
undeclared):
| Ecosystem | Tool |
|---|
| JS/TS | depcheck or knip (knip also covers exports/files) |
| Python | deptry |
| Go | go mod tidy (diff), unused module detection |
Dead code — unreferenced exports, unreachable branches, orphaned files:
| Ecosystem | Tool |
|---|
| JS/TS | knip (exports/files), ts-prune, eslint no-unused-vars |
| Python | vulture, ruff unused rules |
| Go | deadcode ./..., staticcheck (U1000) |
Prefer tools already in the project. Treat results as candidates — verify each isn't
reached via dynamic import, reflection, DI, public API, or a config string before removing.
Risk ranking (TRIAGE)
| Wave | Removal | Default |
|---|
| 1 | unused devDeps, unreferenced local exports/functions | fix now — lowest risk |
| 2 | unused runtime deps, orphaned internal files | fix this pass after confirming no dynamic ref |
| 3 | anything reachable via public API, plugin system, dynamic require, reflection, or config | gated / usually defer — high false-positive risk |
Static tools miss dynamic references. Anything in wave 3, or anything a tool flags but you
can't prove is dead, gets confirmed with the user or deferred — never auto-removed.
Fix & verify
- Remove in small, reversible waves. One category per wave (e.g. "unused devDeps", then
"orphaned files").
- After each wave: full test + build + typecheck. A green typecheck/build is the proof the
removed symbol truly had no references. If anything goes red, the symbol wasn't dead —
revert and reclassify.
- Removing a dep: drop it from the manifest, regenerate the lockfile, rebuild.
- Don't delete: generated files, vendored code, public-API surface, or anything load-bearing
for a config/plugin you can't trace. Report those as "suspected dead, needs human call".
Treat
preferences.health.protectedPaths from config as never-delete globs — anything
matching is out of scope even if a tool flags it.
Gotchas
- Trusting the tool blindly. Dynamic imports, DI containers, reflection, and string-keyed
lookups defeat static analysis. Confirm before deleting.
- Removing public API. A library's unused-internally export may be its whole point. Check
the package entry points /
exports map.
- Deleting generated or vendored files. They look orphaned but are rebuilt/checked-in on purpose.
- Big-bang prune. Deleting everything flagged in one commit makes regressions un-bisectable.
Wave it.
- Scope creep into refactor.
prune removes dead things; it does not restructure live code.
Restructuring → simplify or work.
Companion commands
/absolute simplify — for restructuring/clarity of live code in your diff./absolute upgrade — pairs well: prune unused deps, then upgrade what remains./absolute debt — pruning often clears a batch of lint/unused-var warnings too.
