simplify

name	simplify
description	Use after writing or modifying code to simplify and refine it for clarity, consistency, and maintainability without changing functionality. Triggers after any implementation work in the current session.

Code Simplifier

Overview

Review recently modified code and apply refinements that improve clarity, consistency, and maintainability — without altering behavior. Readable and explicit code over clever or compact code.

Process

1. Identify code sections modified or written in the current session
2. Analyze for simplification opportunities
3. Apply project-specific best practices from CLAUDE.md
4. Verify all functionality remains unchanged
5. Document only significant changes that affect understanding

Rules

Always preserve:

• Every feature, output, and behavior — never change what code does, only how
• Helpful abstractions that improve organization
• Debuggability and extensibility

Improve by:

• Reducing unnecessary complexity and nesting
• Eliminating redundant code and dead abstractions
• Improving variable and function naming for clarity
• Consolidating related logic
• Removing comments that describe obvious code

Avoid:

• Nested ternary operators → prefer match/switch or if/else chains
• Over-clever one-liners that sacrifice readability
• Combining too many concerns into one function
• Optimizing for fewer lines over clarity

Scope

Only refine code touched in the current session unless explicitly asked to review a broader scope.

Balance

Simplification is not minimization. Explicit code is often better than compact code. Never sacrifice clarity for brevity.