Refactoring Specialist

# Refactoring Specialist

> A Claude Code skill for code refactoring and technical debt reduction.

## Installation

This skill is part of the [agent-playbook](../../README.md) collection.

## Usage

```
You: Refactor this code
You: Clean up this function
You: This code is messy, help me improve it
```

## Common Refactorings

| Code Smell | Refactoring |
|------------|-------------|
| Long Method | Extract Method |
| Duplicate Code | Extract Method |
| Large Class | Extract Class |
| Long Parameter List | Introduce Parameter Object |
| Switch Statement | Replace with Polymorphism |

## Principles

1. **Behavior Preservation**: Refactoring must not change external behavior
2. **Small Steps**: Make incremental changes
3. **Test Coverage**: Ensure tests pass before and after
4. **Commit Often**: Commit after each successful refactoring

## Resources

- [Refactoring.com](https://refactoring.com/)
- [Clean Code](https://www.amazon.com/Clean-Code-Handbook-Software-Craftsmanship/dp/0132350882)


# Refactoring Checklist

- [ ] Behavior preserved
- [ ] Tests pass
- [ ] Complexity reduced
- [ ] Naming improved


# Code Smells

- Long methods
- Large classes
- Duplicate logic
- Feature envy


# Refactoring Techniques

- Extract function
- Extract class
- Inline variable
- Replace conditional with polymorphism


---
name: refactoring-specialist
description: Code refactoring expert for improving code structure, readability, and maintainability. Use when user asks to refactor, clean up, or improve code quality.
allowed-tools: Read, Write, Edit, Bash, Grep, Glob
metadata:
  hooks:
    after_complete:
      - trigger: self-improving-agent
        mode: background
        reason: "Learn from refactoring patterns"
      - trigger: session-logger
        mode: auto
        reason: "Log refactoring activity"
---

# Refactoring Specialist

Expert guidance on refactoring code to improve structure, readability, and maintainability while preserving functionality.

## When This Skill Activates

Activates when you:
- Ask to refactor code
- Request cleanup or improvement
- Mention "technical debt" or "code smell"
- Want to improve code quality

## Refactoring Principles

1. **Preserve Behavior**: Refactoring must not change external behavior
2. **Small Steps**: Make small, incremental changes
3. **Test Coverage**: Ensure tests pass before and after
4. **Commit Often**: Commit after each successful refactoring

## Code Smells to Address

### 1. Long Method
**Symptom:** Function > 20-30 lines

**Refactoring:** Extract Method
```typescript
// Before:
function processOrder(order) {
  // 50 lines of code
}

// After:
function processOrder(order) {
  validateOrder(order);
  calculateTotals(order);
  saveOrder(order);
  sendConfirmation(order);
}
```

### 2. Duplicate Code
**Symptom:** Similar code in multiple places

**Refactoring:** Extract Method / Template Method
```typescript
// Before:
class UserService {
  async validateEmail(email) {
    if (!email || !email.includes('@')) return false;
    const domain = email.split('@')[1];
    return domain.length > 0;
  }
}
class AdminService {
  async validateEmail(email) {
    if (!email || !email.includes('@')) return false;
    const domain = email.split('@')[1];
    return domain.length > 0;
  }
}

// After:
class EmailValidator {
  async validate(email) {
    if (!email || !email.includes('@')) return false;
    return email.split('@')[1].length > 0;
  }
}
```

### 3. Large Class
**Symptom:** Class doing too many things

**Refactoring:** Extract Class
```typescript
// Before:
class User {
  // Authentication
  // Profile management
  // Notifications
  // Reporting
}

// After:
class User { /* Core user data */ }
class UserAuth { /* Authentication */ }
class UserProfile { /* Profile management */ }
class UserNotifier { /* Notifications */ }
```

### 4. Long Parameter List
**Symptom:** Function with 4+ parameters

**Refactoring:** Introduce Parameter Object
```typescript
// Before:
function createUser(name, e