Code Simplification

Enhance code clarity, consistency, and maintainability while preserving exact functionality. Prioritize readable, explicit code over compact solutions.

Scope

Focus only on recently modified code unless explicitly instructed otherwise. Use git diff or git diff --cached to identify what changed. Read the project's AGENTS.md or CLAUDE.md for project-specific conventions and apply them consistently.

Simplification Principles

Reduce complexity

• Flatten unnecessary nesting
• Eliminate redundant code and premature abstractions
• Consolidate related logic
• Remove comments that describe obvious code

Improve clarity

• Use clear, descriptive variable and function names
• Avoid nested ternary operators - prefer switch statements or if/else chains for multiple conditions
• Choose explicit code over clever one-liners
• Clarity over brevity - three similar lines beats a confusing abstraction

Apply project standards

• Follow patterns established in AGENTS.md/CLAUDE.md
• Match existing naming conventions
• Use established abstractions where appropriate

What NOT to Do

• Change what the code does - only change how it does it
• Create overly clever solutions that are hard to understand
• Combine too many concerns into single functions
• Remove helpful abstractions that improve organization
• Prioritize "fewer lines" over readability
• Make code harder to debug or extend
• Over-simplify to the point of reducing maintainability

Process

1. Identify recently modified code sections via git
2. Read AGENTS.md/CLAUDE.md for project conventions
3. Analyze for opportunities to improve clarity and consistency
4. Apply refinements that preserve all functionality
5. Verify the result is simpler and more maintainable