refactoring

SKILL.md

Resources

scripts/
  validate-refactoring.sh
references/
  refactoring-patterns.md

Refactoring Quality Skill

This skill teaches you how to perform safe, systematic code refactoring using GoodVibes precision tools. Refactoring improves code structure and maintainability without changing external behavior, making future development faster and reducing bugs.

When to Use This Skill

Load this skill when:

  • Code duplication needs to be eliminated
  • Functions or components have grown too large
  • Type safety needs improvement (reducing any usage)
  • Conditional logic has become complex and hard to follow
  • File and folder structure needs reorganization
  • Dependencies are tightly coupled and need inversion
  • Database schema or queries need optimization
  • Code smells are making development slower

Trigger phrases: "refactor this code", "reduce duplication", "extract function", "simplify conditionals", "improve types", "reorganize", "clean up code".

Core Workflow

Phase 1: Analyze - Understand Current State

Before refactoring, map the current code structure and identify refactoring opportunities.

Step 1.1: Identify Code Smells

Use discover to find common code smells that need refactoring.

discover:
  queries:
    # Large files (> 300 lines)
    - id: large_files
      type: glob
      patterns: ["src/**/*.{ts,tsx,js,jsx}"]
    # Code duplication
    - id: duplicate_patterns
      type: grep
      pattern: "(function|const|class)\\s+\\w+"
      glob: "**/*.{ts,tsx,js,jsx}"
    # Type safety issues
    - id: any_usage
      type: grep
      pattern: ":\\s*any(\\s|;|,|\\))"
      glob: "**/*.{ts,tsx}"
    # Complex conditionals
    - id: nested_conditions
      type: grep
      pattern: "if\\s*\\(.*if\\s*\\("
      glob: "**/*.{ts,tsx,js,jsx}"
  verbosity: files_only

What this reveals:

  • Files that need splitting
  • Repeated code patterns
  • Type safety gaps
  • Complex conditional logic

Step 1.2: Understand Dependencies

Use precision_grep to map how code is used across the codebase.

precision_grep:
  queries:
    - id: function_usage
      pattern: "importFunctionName\\("
      glob: "**/*.{ts,tsx,js,jsx}"
  output:
    format: locations
  verbosity: standard

Why this matters:

  • Refactoring requires updating all call sites
  • Breaking changes must be identified upfront
  • Unused code can be safely removed

Step 1.3: Ensure Tests Exist

Refactoring is only safe when tests validate behavior preservation.

discover:
  queries:
    - id: test_files
      type: glob
      patterns: ["**/*.test.{ts,tsx}", "**/*.spec.{ts,tsx}"]
    - id: source_files
      type: glob
      patterns: ["src/**/*.{ts,tsx}"]
  verbosity: files_only

Critical rule:

  • If tests don't exist, write them BEFORE refactoring
  • Tests act as a safety net to ensure behavior is preserved
  • Run tests before and after refactoring

Phase 2: Extract Function/Component

Large functions and components are hard to test and maintain. Extract reusable pieces.

Step 2.1: Identify Extraction Opportunities

Look for repeated logic or code blocks that do one thing.

precision_read:
  files:
    - path: "src/components/UserProfile.tsx"
      extract: symbols
  verbosity: standard

Extraction candidates:

  • Code blocks that do one specific task
  • Logic repeated in multiple places
  • Functions longer than 50 lines
  • React components with multiple responsibilities

Step 2.2: Extract the Function

Before (duplicated validation logic):

// In user-routes.ts
export async function POST(request: Request) {
  const body = await request.json();
  if (!body.email || !body.email.includes('@')) {
    return Response.json({ error: 'Invalid email' }, { status: 400 });
  }
  // ... rest of logic
}

// In profile-routes.ts
export async function PUT(request: Request) {
  const body = await request.json();
  if (!body.email || !body.email.includes('@')) {
    return Response.json({ error: 'Invalid email' }, { status: 400 });
  }
  // ... rest of logic
}

After (extracted validation):

// lib/validation.ts
import { z } from 'zod';

export const emailSchema = z.string().email();

export function validateEmail(email: unknown): { valid: true; email: string } | { valid: false; error: string } {
  const result = emailSchema.safeParse(email);
  if (!result.success) {
    return { valid: false, error: 'Invalid email format' };
  }
  return { valid: true, email: result.data };
}

// user-routes.ts
import { validateEmail } from '@/lib/validation';

export async function POST(request: Request) {
  const body = await request.json();
  const emailResult = validateEmail(body.email);
  if (!emailResult.valid) {
    return Response.json({ error: emailResult.error }, { status: 400 });
  }
  // ... rest of logic using emailResult.email
}

Use precision_edit to perform the extraction:

precision_edit:
  operations:
    - action: replace
      path: "src/api/user-routes.ts"
      old_text: |
        const body = await request.json();
        if (!body.email || !body.email.includes('@')) {
          return Response.json({ error: 'Invalid email' }, { status: 400 });
        }
      new_text: |
        const body = await request.json();
        const emailResult = validateEmail(body.email);
        if (!emailResult.valid) {
          return Response.json({ error: emailResult.error }, { status: 400 });
        }
  verbosity: minimal

Step 2.3: Extract React Components

Before (large component with multiple responsibilities):

function UserProfile({ userId }: { userId: string }) {
  const [user, setUser] = useState<User | null>(null);
  const [posts, setPosts] = useState<Post[]>([]);
  const [followers, setFollowers] = useState<User[]>([]);

  useEffect(() => {
    fetch(`/api/users/${userId}`).then(r => r.json()).then(setUser);
    fetch(`/api/users/${userId}/posts`).then(r => r.json()).then(setPosts);
    fetch(`/api/users/${userId}/followers`).then(r => r.json()).then(setFollowers);
  }, [userId]);

  if (!user) return <div>Loading...</div>;

  return (
    <div>
      <h1>{user.name}</h1>
      <p>{user.bio}</p>
      
      <div>
        <h2>Posts</h2>
        {posts.map(post => (
          <div key={post.id}>
            <h3>{post.title}</h3>
            <p>{post.content}</p>
          </div>
        ))}
      </div>
      
      <div>
        <h2>Followers</h2>
        {followers.map(follower => (
          <div key={follower.id}>
            <img src={follower.avatar} alt="" />
            <span>{follower.name}</span>
          </div>
        ))}
      </div>
    </div>
  );
}

After (extracted components and hooks):

// hooks/useUser.ts
export function useUser(userId: string) {
  const [user, setUser] = useState<User | null>(null);
  const [loading, setLoading] = useState(true);

  useEffect(() => {
    fetch(`/api/users/${userId}`)
      .then(r => r.json())
      .then(data => {
        setUser(data);
        setLoading(false);
      });
  }, [userId]);

  return { user, loading };
}

// components/UserPosts.tsx
export function UserPosts({ userId }: { userId: string }) {
  const [posts, setPosts] = useState<Post[]>([]);

  useEffect(() => {
    fetch(`/api/users/${userId}/posts`).then(r => r.json()).then(setPosts);
  }, [userId]);

  return (
    <div>
      <h2>Posts</h2>
      {posts.map(post => (
        <PostCard key={post.id} post={post} />
      ))}
    </div>
  );
}

// components/UserFollowers.tsx
export function UserFollowers({ userId }: { userId: string }) {
  const [followers, setFollowers] = useState<User[]>([]);

  useEffect(() => {
    fetch(`/api/users/${userId}/followers`).then(r => r.json()).then(setFollowers);
  }, [userId]);

  return (
    <div>
      <h2>Followers</h2>
      {followers.map(follower => (
        <FollowerCard key={follower.id} user={follower} />
      ))}
    </div>
  );
}

// components/UserProfile.tsx
function UserProfile({ userId }: { userId: string }) {
  const { user, loading } = useUser(userId);

  if (loading || !user) return <div>Loading...</div>;

  return (
    <div>
      <h1>{user.name}</h1>
      <p>{user.bio}</p>
      <UserPosts userId={userId} />
      <UserFollowers userId={userId} />
    </div>
  );
}

Benefits:

  • Each component has a single responsibility
  • Easier to test in isolation
  • Reusable across the application
  • Better performance (can memoize individual pieces)

Phase 3: Rename and Reorganize

Poor naming and file organization slow development.

Step 3.1: Improve Naming

Rename variables, functions, and files to be descriptive.

Bad naming:

function getData(id: string) { ... }  // Too generic
const x = getUserById(userId);  // Unclear abbreviation
let flag = true;  // What does this flag represent?

Good naming:

function getUserProfile(userId: string) { ... }  // Specific, clear intent
const userProfile = getUserById(userId);  // Descriptive
let isEmailVerified = true;  // Boolean naming convention

Use precision_edit with replace_all for renaming:

precision_edit:
  operations:
    - action: replace
      path: "src/lib/user.ts"
      old_text: "function getData"
      new_text: "function getUserProfile"
      replace_all: true
  verbosity: minimal

Step 3.2: Reorganize File Structure

Group related files together using feature-based or layer-based structure.

Before (flat structure):

src/
  user-routes.ts
  user-service.ts
  user-repository.ts
  post-routes.ts
  post-service.ts
  post-repository.ts

After (feature-based structure):

src/
  features/
    users/
      api/
        routes.ts
      services/
        user-service.ts
      repositories/
        user-repository.ts
      types/
        user.types.ts
      index.ts  # Barrel export
    posts/
      api/
        routes.ts
      services/
        post-service.ts
      repositories/
        post-repository.ts
      types/
        post.types.ts
      index.ts

Benefits:

  • Related code is colocated
  • Easier to find files
  • Clear feature boundaries
  • Barrel exports simplify imports

Use precision_write to create barrel exports:

precision_write:
  files:
    - path: "src/features/users/index.ts"
      content: |
        export * from './types/user.types';
        export * from './services/user-service';
        export * from './repositories/user-repository';
  verbosity: minimal

Phase 4: Simplify Conditionals

Nested conditionals and complex boolean logic are error-prone.

Step 4.1: Use Guard Clauses

Before (nested conditionals):

function processOrder(order: Order) {
  if (order.status === 'pending') {
    if (order.items.length > 0) {
      if (order.paymentConfirmed) {
        // Process order
        return processPayment(order);
      } else {
        throw new Error('Payment not confirmed');
      }
    } else {
      throw new Error('Order has no items');
    }
  } else {
    throw new Error('Order is not pending');
  }
}

After (guard clauses):

function processOrder(order: Order) {
  if (order.status !== 'pending') {
    throw new Error('Order is not pending');
  }

  if (order.items.length === 0) {
    throw new Error('Order has no items');
  }

  if (!order.paymentConfirmed) {
    throw new Error('Payment not confirmed');
  }

  return processPayment(order);
}

Benefits:

  • Flat structure, easier to read
  • Error conditions checked first
  • Happy path is at the end

Step 4.2: Extract Conditionals into Named Functions

Before (complex boolean logic):

if (user.role === 'admin' || (user.role === 'moderator' && user.permissions.includes('delete')) || user.id === post.authorId) {
  deletePost(post.id);
}

After (named function):

function canDeletePost(user: User, post: Post): boolean {
  if (user.role === 'admin') return true;
  if (user.role === 'moderator' && user.permissions.includes('delete')) return true;
  if (user.id === post.authorId) return true;
  return false;
}

if (canDeletePost(user, post)) {
  deletePost(post.id);
}

Benefits:

  • Self-documenting code
  • Reusable logic
  • Easier to test

Step 4.3: Use Strategy Pattern for Complex Conditionals

Before (long switch statement):

function calculateShipping(order: Order): number {
  switch (order.shippingMethod) {
    case 'standard':
      return order.weight * 0.5;
    case 'express':
      return order.weight * 1.5 + 10;
    case 'overnight':
      return order.weight * 3 + 25;
    case 'international':
      return order.weight * 5 + 50;
    default:
      throw new Error('Unknown shipping method');
  }
}

After (strategy pattern):

interface ShippingStrategy {
  calculate(weight: number): number;
}

class StandardShipping implements ShippingStrategy {
  calculate(weight: number): number {
    return weight * 0.5;
  }
}

class ExpressShipping implements ShippingStrategy {
  calculate(weight: number): number {
    return weight * 1.5 + 10;
  }
}

class OvernightShipping implements ShippingStrategy {
  calculate(weight: number): number {
    return weight * 3 + 25;
  }
}

class InternationalShipping implements ShippingStrategy {
  calculate(weight: number): number {
    return weight * 5 + 50;
  }
}

const shippingStrategies: Record<string, ShippingStrategy> = {
  standard: new StandardShipping(),
  express: new ExpressShipping(),
  overnight: new OvernightShipping(),
  international: new InternationalShipping(),
};

function calculateShipping(order: Order): number {
  const strategy = shippingStrategies[order.shippingMethod];
  if (!strategy) {
    throw new Error('Unknown shipping method');
  }
  return strategy.calculate(order.weight);
}

Benefits:

  • Open/closed principle (easy to add new strategies)
  • Each strategy is independently testable
  • Eliminates long switch statements

Phase 5: Type Improvements

Strong typing catches bugs at compile time.

Step 5.1: Eliminate any Types

Find all any usage:

precision_grep:
  queries:
    - id: any_usage
      pattern: ":\\s*any(\\s|;|,|\\))"
      glob: "**/*.{ts,tsx}"
  output:
    format: locations
  verbosity: standard

Before (unsafe):

function processData(data: any) {
  return data.value.toUpperCase();  // Runtime error if value is not a string
}

After (type-safe):

interface DataWithValue {
  value: string;
}

function processData(data: DataWithValue): string {
  return data.value.toUpperCase();
}

Step 5.2: Use Discriminated Unions

Before (weak typing):

interface ApiResponse {
  success: boolean;
  data?: User;
  error?: string;
}

function handleResponse(response: ApiResponse) {
  if (response.success) {
    console.log(response.data.name);  // TypeScript can't guarantee data exists
  }
}

After (discriminated union):

type ApiResponse =
  | { success: true; data: User }
  | { success: false; error: string };

function handleResponse(response: ApiResponse) {
  if (response.success) {
    console.log(response.data.name);  // TypeScript knows data exists here
  } else {
    console.error(response.error);  // TypeScript knows error exists here
  }
}

Benefits:

  • Exhaustive type checking
  • Impossible states are impossible to represent
  • Better IntelliSense

Step 5.3: Add Generic Constraints

Before (too generic):

function getProperty<T>(obj: T, key: string) {
  return obj[key];  // Type error: no index signature
}

After (proper constraints):

function getProperty<T extends Record<string, unknown>, K extends keyof T>(
  obj: T,
  key: K
): T[K] {
  return obj[key];
}

const user = { name: 'Alice', age: 30 };
const name = getProperty(user, 'name');  // Type is string
const age = getProperty(user, 'age');    // Type is number

Benefits:

  • Type inference works correctly
  • Catches invalid key access at compile time

Phase 6: Dependency Inversion

Decouple code by depending on abstractions, not implementations.

Step 6.1: Extract Interfaces

Before (tight coupling):

import { PrismaClient } from '@prisma/client';

class UserService {
  private prisma = new PrismaClient();

  async getUser(id: string) {
    return this.prisma.user.findUnique({ where: { id } });
  }
}

After (dependency injection):

interface UserRepository {
  findById(id: string): Promise<User | null>;
  create(data: CreateUserInput): Promise<User>;
  update(id: string, data: UpdateUserInput): Promise<User>;
}

class PrismaUserRepository implements UserRepository {
  constructor(private prisma: PrismaClient) {}

  async findById(id: string): Promise<User | null> {
    return this.prisma.user.findUnique({ where: { id } });
  }

  async create(data: CreateUserInput): Promise<User> {
    return this.prisma.user.create({ data });
  }

  async update(id: string, data: UpdateUserInput): Promise<User> {
    return this.prisma.user.update({ where: { id }, data });
  }
}

class UserService {
  constructor(private userRepo: UserRepository) {}

  async getUser(id: string) {
    return this.userRepo.findById(id);
  }
}

// Usage
const prisma = new PrismaClient();
const userRepo = new PrismaUserRepository(prisma);
const userService = new UserService(userRepo);

Benefits:

  • Easy to mock in tests (inject fake repository)
  • Can swap Prisma for another ORM without changing UserService
  • Clear separation of concerns

Step 6.2: Use Factory Pattern

Before (hard to test):

function sendEmail(to: string, subject: string, body: string) {
  const client = new SendGridClient(process.env.SENDGRID_API_KEY!);  // BAD: Non-null assertion bypasses runtime validation
  client.send({ to, subject, body });
}

After (factory injection):

interface EmailClient {
  send(email: { to: string; subject: string; body: string }): Promise<void>;
}

class SendGridEmailClient implements EmailClient {
  constructor(private apiKey: string) {}

  async send(email: { to: string; subject: string; body: string }) {
    // SendGrid implementation
  }
}

class MockEmailClient implements EmailClient {
  async send(email: { to: string; subject: string; body: string }) {
    console.log('Mock email sent:', email);
  }
}

function createEmailClient(): EmailClient {
  if (process.env.NODE_ENV === 'test') {
    return new MockEmailClient();
  }
  const apiKey = process.env.SENDGRID_API_KEY;
  if (!apiKey) {
    throw new Error('SENDGRID_API_KEY environment variable is required');
  }
  return new SendGridEmailClient(apiKey);
}

function sendEmail(client: EmailClient, to: string, subject: string, body: string) {
  return client.send({ to, subject, body });
}

Benefits:

  • Tests don't send real emails
  • Easy to swap email providers
  • Environment-specific behavior

Phase 7: Database Refactoring

Database schemas and queries need careful refactoring.

Step 7.1: Add Indexes for Performance

Check existing schema:

precision_read:
  files:
    - path: "prisma/schema.prisma"
      extract: content
  verbosity: standard

Before (missing indexes):

model Post {
  id        String   @id @default(cuid())
  title     String
  published Boolean  @default(false)
  authorId  String
  createdAt DateTime @default(now())
}

After (with indexes):

model Post {
  id        String   @id @default(cuid())
  title     String
  published Boolean  @default(false)
  authorId  String
  createdAt DateTime @default(now())

  @@index([authorId])
  @@index([published, createdAt])
}

When to add indexes:

  • Foreign keys (authorId, userId)
  • Fields in WHERE clauses (published, status)
  • Fields in ORDER BY (createdAt, updatedAt)
  • Compound indexes for multi-column queries

Step 7.2: Normalize Database Schema

Before (denormalized):

model Order {
  id            String @id
  customerName  String
  customerEmail String
  customerPhone String
}

After (normalized):

model Customer {
  id     String @id
  name   String
  email  String @unique
  phone  String
  orders Order[]
}

model Order {
  id         String   @id
  customerId String
  customer   Customer @relation(fields: [customerId], references: [id])

  @@index([customerId])
}

Benefits:

  • No data duplication
  • Update customer info in one place
  • Referential integrity

Step 7.3: Optimize Queries

Before (N+1 query):

const posts = await prisma.post.findMany();
for (const post of posts) {
  const author = await prisma.user.findUnique({ where: { id: post.authorId } });
  console.log(`${post.title} by ${author.name}`);  // Note: Use structured logger in production
}

After (eager loading):

const posts = await prisma.post.findMany({
  include: {
    author: true,
  },
});
for (const post of posts) {
  console.log(`${post.title} by ${post.author.name}`);  // Note: Use structured logger in production
}

Use discover to find N+1 patterns:

discover:
  queries:
    - id: n_plus_one
      type: grep
      pattern: "(for|forEach|map).*await.*(prisma|db|query|find)"
      glob: "**/*.{ts,tsx,js,jsx}"
  verbosity: locations

Phase 8: Validation and Testing

Refactoring is only safe when validated by tests.

Step 8.1: Run Tests Before Refactoring

Establish baseline: tests must pass before you start.

precision_exec:
  commands:
    - cmd: "npm run test"
  verbosity: standard

If tests fail, fix them first.

Step 8.2: Refactor Incrementally

Make small changes and validate after each step.

Workflow:

  1. Run tests (establish baseline)
  2. Make one refactoring change
  3. Run tests again
  4. If tests pass, commit and continue
  5. If tests fail, revert and investigate

Use precision_exec to validate:

precision_exec:
  commands:
    - cmd: "npm run typecheck"
    - cmd: "npm run lint"
    - cmd: "npm run test"
  verbosity: standard

Step 8.3: Add Tests for Refactored Code

If coverage drops, add tests.

precision_exec:
  commands:
    - cmd: "npm run test -- --coverage"
  verbosity: standard

Check coverage:

  • Functions should be 80%+ covered
  • Critical paths should be 100% covered
  • Edge cases should have explicit tests

Phase 9: Update Documentation

Refactored code needs updated documentation.

Step 9.1: Update JSDoc Comments

Before (outdated):

/**
 * Gets user data from the database
 */
function getData(id: string) { ... }  // Function was renamed

After (current):

/**
 * Retrieves a user profile by ID including related posts and followers
 * @param userId - The unique identifier for the user
 * @returns User profile with posts and followers, or null if not found
 */
function getUserProfile(userId: string): Promise<UserProfile | null> { ... }

Step 9.2: Update README and Architecture Docs

If file structure changed, update documentation.

Example updates:

  • Update file tree in README
  • Update import examples
  • Update architecture diagrams
  • Update contribution guidelines

Phase 10: Automated Validation

Run the validation script to ensure refactoring quality.

./scripts/validate-refactoring.sh /path/to/project

The script validates:

  • Tests pass before and after
  • Code duplication is reduced
  • Type safety improved (no new any types)
  • Functions are within size limits
  • Import cycles eliminated
  • Test coverage maintained or improved

Common Refactoring Patterns

See references/refactoring-patterns.md for detailed before/after examples.

Quick reference:

Extract Method

When: Function is too long or does multiple things
Fix: Extract logical blocks into separate functions

Rename Variable/Function

When: Name is unclear or misleading
Fix: Rename to be descriptive and follow conventions

Replace Conditional with Polymorphism

When: Switch statement based on type
Fix: Use strategy pattern or class hierarchy

Introduce Parameter Object

When: Function has too many parameters
Fix: Group related parameters into an object

Replace Magic Numbers

When: Hardcoded numbers without context
Fix: Extract to named constants

Consolidate Duplicate Conditional Fragments

When: Same code in all branches
Fix: Move common code outside conditional

Precision Tools for Refactoring

Discover Tool

Find refactoring candidates across the codebase.

Example: Find duplication

discover:
  queries:
    - id: validation_patterns
      type: grep
      pattern: "if.*!.*email.*includes"
      glob: "**/*.{ts,tsx}"
    - id: large_functions
      type: symbols
      query: "function"
  verbosity: locations

Precision Edit

Perform safe, atomic refactoring edits.

Example: Extract function

precision_edit:
  operations:
    - action: replace
      path: "src/api/user.ts"
      old_text: |
        if (!email || !email.includes('@')) {
          return { error: 'Invalid email' };
        }
      new_text: |
        const emailValidation = validateEmail(email);
        if (!emailValidation.valid) {
          return { error: emailValidation.error };
        }
  verbosity: minimal

Precision Exec

Validate refactoring doesn't break anything.

precision_exec:
  commands:
    - cmd: "npm run typecheck"
    - cmd: "npm run lint -- --fix"
    - cmd: "npm run test"
  verbosity: standard

Validation Script

Use scripts/validate-refactoring.sh to validate refactoring quality.

./scripts/validate-refactoring.sh /path/to/project

The script checks:

  • Tests passing before and after changes
  • Code duplication metrics
  • Type safety (no new any types)
  • Function size limits
  • Import cycles
  • Test coverage maintained

Quick Reference

Refactoring Checklist

Before refactoring:

  • Tests exist and pass
  • Understand current code structure
  • Identify refactoring goal (extract, rename, reorganize)
  • Map all usage sites

During refactoring:

  • Make small, incremental changes
  • Run tests after each change
  • Keep commits focused and atomic
  • Update imports and references

After refactoring:

  • All tests pass
  • Type checking passes
  • Linting passes
  • Test coverage maintained or improved
  • Documentation updated
  • Run validation script

When to Refactor

Good times to refactor:

  • Before adding a new feature (clean up first)
  • When fixing a bug (improve structure while fixing)
  • During code review (suggest improvements)
  • When code smells are noticed (duplication, complexity)

Bad times to refactor:

  • While debugging an urgent issue (fix first, refactor later)
  • Without tests (unsafe, can break behavior)
  • Near a deadline (risk introducing bugs)
  • When requirements are changing rapidly

Refactoring Safety Rules

  1. Tests are mandatory - Never refactor without tests
  2. One change at a time - Don't mix refactoring with feature work
  3. Validate frequently - Run tests after every change
  4. Commit atomically - Each commit should be a complete, working state
  5. Preserve behavior - Refactoring should not change functionality

Advanced Techniques

Automated Refactoring with Precision Tools

Use discover to find patterns, then precision_edit to fix them.

# Step 1: Find all console.log statements
discover:
  queries:
    - id: console_logs
      type: grep
      pattern: "console\\.log\\("
      glob: "src/**/*.{ts,tsx}"
  verbosity: locations

# Step 2: Replace with proper logger
precision_edit:
  operations:
    - action: replace
      path: "src/file1.ts"
      old_text: "console.log("
      new_text: "logger.info("
      replace_all: true
  verbosity: minimal

Parallel Refactoring

Refactor multiple files simultaneously using batch operations.

precision_edit:
  operations:
    - action: replace
      path: "src/api/user.ts"
      old_text: "getData"
      new_text: "getUserProfile"
      replace_all: true
    - action: replace
      path: "src/api/post.ts"
      old_text: "getData"
      new_text: "getPostDetails"
      replace_all: true
  verbosity: minimal

Refactoring Metrics

Track improvement over time.

Measure before refactoring:

precision_exec:
  commands:
    - cmd: "find src -not -path '*/node_modules/*' -not -path '*/dist/*' -name '*.ts' -exec wc -l {} + | tail -1"
    - cmd: "grep -r --include='*.ts' --exclude-dir=node_modules --exclude-dir=dist --exclude-dir=.git --exclude-dir=.next -- 'any' src | wc -l"
  verbosity: standard

Measure after refactoring and compare:

  • Lines of code (should decrease if duplication removed)
  • any usage count (should decrease)
  • Number of files (may increase if splitting large files)
  • Test coverage (should maintain or increase)

Integration with Other Skills

  • Use code-review to identify refactoring needs
  • Use type-safety skill for type improvement patterns
  • Use error-handling skill when refactoring error logic
  • Use testing-strategy to ensure adequate test coverage
  • Use component-architecture when refactoring UI components
  • Use database-layer when refactoring database queries

Resources

  • references/refactoring-patterns.md - Common refactoring patterns with examples
  • scripts/validate-refactoring.sh - Automated refactoring validation
  • Martin Fowler's Refactoring Catalog - https://refactoring.com/catalog/
  • Clean Code by Robert C. Martin
  • Refactoring: Improving the Design of Existing Code by Martin Fowler
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