refactor

name	refactor
description	Refactors code for better structure, readability, and performance while preserving behavior.
triggers	["refactor this","clean up this code","improve this code","simplify this","make this more readable"]

Refactor Skill

Objective

Improve code structure and quality without changing behavior. Focus on readability, maintainability, and performance.

Steps

1. Read the code: Understand current structure and behavior using file_read and code_symbols
2. Identify issues: Find code smells — duplication, long functions, deep nesting, unclear naming, unnecessary complexity
3. Plan changes: List specific refactoring operations (extract function, rename, simplify conditional, etc.)
4. Apply changes: Use file_patch or code_edit to make surgical edits
5. Verify: Run existing tests with shell_exec to ensure nothing broke

Refactoring Catalog

• Extract function: Long function → smaller named pieces
• Inline: Unnecessary indirection → direct code
• Rename: Unclear names → descriptive names
• Simplify conditional: Nested if/else → early return or match
• Remove duplication: Copy-paste → shared function
• Reduce nesting: Deep nesting → guard clauses
• Type narrowing: any/Object → specific types

Rules

• Never change behavior — refactoring is structure-only
• Run tests before and after
• Make one logical change per edit (reviewable)
• Prefer smaller, incremental changes over big rewrites