
React Modernization
Automate class-to-hooks migrations, unsafe lifecycle fixes, and React 17+ import updates with jscodeshift codemods before you ship a modernized UI.
Install
npx skills add https://github.com/wshobson/agents --skill react-modernizationWhat is this skill?
- Documents official react-codemod transforms (unsafe lifecycles, React imports, error boundaries) with jscodeshift and TS
- Includes dry-run and print flags so solo builders preview AST changes before writing files
- Covers third-party class-to-function hook conversion via codemod CLI
- Provides a custom jscodeshift skeleton for replacing setState with useState patterns
- Pairs automation with manual modernization patterns for teams upgrading legacy React
Adoption & trust: 8.2k installs on skills.sh; 36.5k GitHub stars; 2/3 security scanners passed (skills.sh audits).
Recommended Skills
Journey fit
Canonical shelf is Build because the skill’s value is executing or scripting frontend refactors in an existing React codebase, not ideation or distribution. Frontend subphase fits codemod runs against `src/` components, lifecycle renames, and hook conversions that directly touch the UI layer.
Common Questions / FAQ
Is React Modernization safe to install?
skills.sh reports 2 of 3 security scanners passed. Review the Security Audits panel on this page before installing in production.
SKILL.md
READMESKILL.md - React Modernization
# react-modernization — additional patterns and templates ## Codemods for Automation ### Run React Codemods ```bash # Rename unsafe lifecycle methods npx jscodeshift -t https://raw.githubusercontent.com/reactjs/react-codemod/master/transforms/rename-unsafe-lifecycles.js src/ # Update React imports (React 17+) npx jscodeshift -t https://raw.githubusercontent.com/reactjs/react-codemod/master/transforms/update-react-imports.js src/ # Add error boundaries npx jscodeshift -t https://raw.githubusercontent.com/reactjs/react-codemod/master/transforms/error-boundaries.js src/ # For TypeScript files npx jscodeshift -t https://raw.githubusercontent.com/reactjs/react-codemod/master/transforms/rename-unsafe-lifecycles.js --parser=tsx src/ # Dry run to preview changes npx jscodeshift -t https://raw.githubusercontent.com/reactjs/react-codemod/master/transforms/rename-unsafe-lifecycles.js --dry --print src/ # Class to Hooks (third-party) npx codemod react/hooks/convert-class-to-function src/ ``` ### Custom Codemod Example ```javascript // custom-codemod.js module.exports = function (file, api) { const j = api.jscodeshift; const root = j(file.source); // Find setState calls root .find(j.CallExpression, { callee: { type: "MemberExpression", property: { name: "setState" }, }, }) .forEach((path) => { // Transform to useState // ... transformation logic }); return root.toSource(); }; // Run: jscodeshift -t custom-codemod.js src/ ``` ## Performance Optimization ### useMemo and useCallback ```javascript function ExpensiveComponent({ items, filter }) { // Memoize expensive calculation const filteredItems = useMemo(() => { return items.filter((item) => item.category === filter); }, [items, filter]); // Memoize callback to prevent child re-renders const handleClick = useCallback((id) => { console.log("Clicked:", id); }, []); // No dependencies, never changes return <List items={filteredItems} onClick={handleClick} />; } // Child component with memo const List = React.memo(({ items, onClick }) => { return items.map((item) => ( <Item key={item.id} item={item} onClick={onClick} /> )); }); ``` ### Code Splitting ```javascript import { lazy, Suspense } from "react"; // Lazy load components const Dashboard = lazy(() => import("./Dashboard")); const Settings = lazy(() => import("./Settings")); function App() { return ( <Suspense fallback={<Loading />}> <Routes> <Route path="/dashboard" element={<Dashboard />} /> <Route path="/settings" element={<Settings />} /> </Routes> </Suspense> ); } ``` ## TypeScript Migration ```typescript // Before: JavaScript function Button({ onClick, children }) { return <button onClick={onClick}>{children}</button>; } // After: TypeScript interface ButtonProps { onClick: () => void; children: React.ReactNode; } function Button({ onClick, children }: ButtonProps) { return <button onClick={onClick}>{children}</button>; } // Generic components interface ListProps<T> { items: T[]; renderItem: (item: T) => React.ReactNode; } function List<T>({ items, renderItem }: ListProps<T>) { return <>{items.map(renderItem)}</>; } ``` ## Migration Checklist ```markdown ### Pre-Migration - [ ] Update dependencies incrementally (not all at once) - [ ] Review breaking changes in release notes - [ ] Set up testing suite - [ ] Create feature branch ### Class → Hooks Migration - [ ] Identify class components to migrate - [ ] Start with leaf components (no children) - [ ] Convert state to useState - [ ] Convert lifecycle to useEffect - [ ] Convert context to useContext - [ ] Extract custom hooks - [ ] Test thoroughly ### React 18 Upgrade - [ ] Update to React 17 first (if needed) - [ ] Update react and react-dom to 18 - [ ] Update @types/react if using TypeScript - [ ] Change to createRoot API - [ ] Test with StrictMode (double invocation) - [ ] Address concurrent rendering