Skip to content
Back to skills

Dev Refactor

ASecurity

Code refactoring to improve quality. Trigger when the user wants to clean up, restructure, or improve existing code.

  • 5 stars
  • 0 votes
  • 0 copies
  • 1 view
  • Added May 28, 2026
ai-agentstypescriptgobashrefactoring

Security analysis

A100/100

Pro scans all 2 files and shows the line behind each finding

Scanned September 28, 2026

npx -y skills add christopherlouet/claude-base --skill dev-refactor --agent claude-code

Installs into .claude/skills of the current project.

Are you the author of Dev Refactor?

Add the live security badge to your README. It updates with every re-scan.

Security grade badge for Dev Refactor
[![Security: A — Skills Directory](https://www.skillsdirectory.com/api/skills/christopherlouet-dev-refactor/badge)](https://www.skillsdirectory.com/skills/christopherlouet-dev-refactor)

More formats (shields.io, HTML) on the badges page. Keep it an A: scan every change in CI with Pro.

Download with Pro
SKILL.md
---
name: dev-refactor
description: Code refactoring to improve quality. Trigger when the user wants to clean up, restructure, or improve existing code.
argument-hint: "[file-or-module]"
---

# Code Refactoring

## Principles

1. **Tests pass BEFORE and AFTER**
2. **Small incremental changes**
3. **One type of change at a time**
4. **Commit after each refactoring**

## Common techniques

### Extract Function

```typescript
// Before
function processOrder(order) {
  // 20 lines of validation
  // 30 lines of calculation
  // 10 lines of sending
}

// After
function processOrder(order) {
  validateOrder(order);
  const total = calculateTotal(order);
  sendConfirmation(order, total);
}
```

### Extract Variable

```typescript
// Before
if (user.age >= 18 && user.country === 'FR' && !user.banned) { }

// After
const isAdult = user.age >= 18;
const isFrench = user.country === 'FR';
const isActive = !user.banned;
if (isAdult && isFrench && isActive) { }
```

### Replace Conditional with Polymorphism

```typescript
// Before
function getPrice(type) {
  switch(type) {
    case 'basic': return 10;
    case 'premium': return 20;
  }
}

// After
interface Plan { getPrice(): number }
class BasicPlan implements Plan { getPrice() { return 10; } }
class PremiumPlan implements Plan { getPrice() { return 20; } }
```

## Code Smells to detect

| Smell | Refactoring |
|-------|-------------|
| Long method | Extract Method |
| Large class | Extract Class |
| Duplicate code | Extract + Reuse |
| Long parameter list | Parameter Object |
| Feature envy | Move Method |
| Primitive obsession | Value Object |

## Reducing Entropy (Complexity reduction)

### Complexity metrics

| Metric | Alert threshold | How to measure |
|--------|----------------|----------------|
| **Cyclomatic complexity** | > 10 per function | Number of branches (if/else/switch) |
| **Nesting depth** | > 3 levels | Nesting of if/for/while |
| **Function length** | > 50 lines | Number of lines |
| **Number of parameters** | > 4 | Function parameters |
| **Afferent/efferent coupling** | Unstable ratio | Incoming/outgoing dependencies |
| **File size** | > 300 lines | Lines of code |

### Reduction techniques

#### Early Return (eliminate nesting)

```typescript
// BEFORE: deep nesting (high entropy)
function process(user) {
  if (user) {
    if (user.isActive) {
      if (user.hasPermission) {
        return doWork(user);
      }
    }
  }
  return null;
}

// AFTER: early returns (low entropy)
function process(user) {
  if (!user) return null;
  if (!user.isActive) return null;
  if (!user.hasPermission) return null;
  return doWork(user);
}
```

#### Break down complex conditions

```typescript
// BEFORE
if (user.age >= 18 && user.country === 'FR' && !user.banned && user.email.includes('@')) { }

// AFTER
const isEligible = user.age >= 18
  && user.country === 'FR'
  && !user.banned
  && isValidEmail(user.email);
if (isEligible) { }
```

#### Eliminate dead code

```bash
# Find unused exports
# Find functions never called
# Remove unused imports
# Remove obsolete comments
# Remove orphan files
```

#### Consolidate duplications

```
Rule of 3: refactor on the 3rd duplication, not before.
- 1st occurrence: write the code
- 2nd occurrence: note the duplication (comment)
- 3rd occurrence: extract into a function/module
```

## Workflow

1. MEASURE current complexity (metrics)
2. Identify the code smell
3. Write/verify tests
4. Apply the refactoring
5. MEASURE complexity after (must decrease)
6. Verify tests
7. Commit
8. Repeat

Files in this skill

  • SKILL.md3.5 KB
  • examples/extract-service.md3.6 KB

Attribution

Is this your skill, or is something wrong with this listing? Request removal or report an issue. Author removals are honored within 72 hours.

Comments

Loading comments…

Newsletter

Get the weekly list of safe new skills, and the ones we pulled.