vulture-dead-code
Vulture and deadcode tools for detecting unused Python code (functions, classes, imports). Use when cleaning up codebases or removing dead code. Triggers vulture, deadcode.
- Installs
- 318
- Last 24h
- —
- Trending rank
- —
- Security
- Not audited
Install
Works with every agent the skills CLI supports.
npx skills add https://github.com/laurigates/claude-plugins --skill vulture-dead-code- 01
Install
Run the command in your project. The CLI asks which agents to install for.
- 02
Describe the task
Ask your agent for something this skill covers. It loads vulture-dead-code automatically when relevant.
- 03
Review the result
The agent follows the SKILL.md steps, scripts and references bundled with the skill.
SKILL.md
The instructions your agent reads when the skill is triggered.
Vulture and deadcode - Dead Code Detection
Tools for finding unused Python code including functions, classes, variables, imports, and attributes.
When to Use This Skill
| Use this skill when... | Use another tool instead when... |
|---|---|
| Detecting unused functions, classes, variables | Finding unused imports only (use ruff --select F401) |
| Cleaning up dead code in a codebase | Checking type correctness (use basedpyright) |
| Enforcing code hygiene in CI | Formatting code (use ruff format) |
| Generating whitelists for false positives | Running general linting (use ruff check) |
Overview
Vulture (mature, confidence-based) and deadcode (newer, AST-based) both detect unused code but with different approaches:
| Feature | Vulture | deadcode |
|---|---|---|
| Approach | Static analysis + confidence scores | AST-based detection |
| Accuracy | Confidence scores (60-100%) | High accuracy, fewer false positives |
| Speed | Fast | Very fast |
| Configuration | Whitelist files | TOML configuration |
| Maturity | Mature (2012) | Newer (2023+) |
| Best For | Large codebases, gradual cleanup | New projects, strict enforcement |
Installation
# Install vulture
uv add --dev vulture
# Install deadcode (newer alternative)
uv add --dev deadcode
# Install both for comparison
uv add --dev vulture deadcode
Vulture - Confidence-Based Detection
Basic Usage
# Check entire project
vulture .
# Check specific files/directories
vulture src/ tests/
# Minimum confidence threshold (60-100%)
vulture --min-confidence 80 .
# Exclude patterns
vulture . --exclude "**/migrations/*,**/tests/*"
# Sort by confidence
vulture --sort-by-size .
# Generate whitelist of current issues
vulture . --make-whitelist > vulture_whitelist.py
Configuration (pyproject.toml)
[tool.vulture]
min_confidence = 80
paths = ["src", "tests"]
exclude = [
"**/migrations/*",
"**/__pycache__/*",
".venv/*"
]
ignore_decorators = [
"@app.route",
"@pytest.fixture",
"@property",
"@staticmethod",
"@classmethod"
]
ignore_names = [
"test_*",
"setUp*",
"tearDown*",
]
deadcode - AST-Based Detection
Basic Usage
# Check entire project
deadcode .
# Check specific files/directories
deadcode src/
# Verbose output
deadcode --verbose .
# Dry run (show what would be removed)
deadcode --dry-run .
# Show unreachable code
deadcode --show-unreachable .
# Generate configuration
deadcode --init
Configuration (pyproject.toml)
[tool.deadcode]
paths = ["src"]
exclude = [
"tests/*",
"**/__pycache__/*",
"**/migrations/*",
]
ignore_names = [
"test_*",
"setUp",
"tearDown",
"main",
]
ignore_decorators = [
"app.route",
"pytest.fixture",
"property",
"staticmethod",
"classmethod",
"abstractmethod"
]
show_unreachable = false
Choosing Between Tools
| Choose Vulture when... | Choose deadcode when... |
|---|---|
| Large, mature codebases | New projects |
| Need confidence-based filtering | Want fewer false positives |
| Need whitelist file approach | Prefer TOML configuration |
| Dynamic code (getattr, exec) | Need unreachable code detection |
Hybrid Approach
# Run both for comprehensive detection
vulture --min-confidence 80 .
deadcode .
Agentic Optimizations
| Context | Command |
|---|---|
| Quick vulture check | vulture --min-confidence 90 . |
| Quick deadcode check | deadcode . |
| Generate whitelist | vulture . --make-whitelist > vulture_whitelist.py |
| CI enforcement | vulture --min-confidence 80 . vulture_whitelist.py |
| Unreachable code | deadcode --show-unreachable . |
| Combined check | vulture --min-confidence 80 . && deadcode . |
Quick Reference
Vulture Flags
| Flag | Description |
|---|---|
--min-confidence N | Minimum confidence (60-100%) |
--exclude PATTERN | Exclude glob patterns |
--sort-by-size | Sort results by size |
--make-whitelist | Generate whitelist file |
deadcode Flags
| Flag | Description |
|---|---|
--verbose | Verbose output |
--dry-run | Show without modifying |
--show-unreachable | Detect unreachable code |
--init | Generate configuration |
--strict | Strict enforcement mode |
For detailed examples, advanced patterns, and best practices, see REFERENCE.md.
FAQ
What does the vulture-dead-code skill do?
Vulture and deadcode tools for detecting unused Python code (functions, classes, imports). Use when cleaning up codebases or removing dead code. Triggers vulture, deadcode.
How do I install vulture-dead-code?
Run npx skills add https://github.com/laurigates/claude-plugins --skill vulture-dead-code in your project. The skills CLI detects the agents you use and copies the skill into the right folder. For Claude Code you can also place the skill folder at ~/.claude/skills/vulture-dead-code/ (personal) or .claude/skills/vulture-dead-code/ (project).
Which AI agents can use vulture-dead-code?
Any agent that supports the open Agent Skills format (a folder with a SKILL.md file), including Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, Windsurf, Cline, OpenCode and more.
Is vulture-dead-code safe to install?
No partner security audit is available yet. Skills can run commands and scripts, so read the SKILL.md and any bundled files before installing.
Who maintains vulture-dead-code?
It is published by laurigates in laurigates/claude-plugins. It has 318 recorded installs.
More from laurigates/claude-plugins
python-code-quality
laurigates/claude-plugins
Python code quality with ruff and ty. Use when the user mentions ruff, ty, linting, formatting, type checking, or Python code style.
python-testing
laurigates/claude-plugins
Python testing with pytest, coverage, fixtures, and mocking. Use when the user mentions pytest, unit tests, coverage, fixtures, mocking, or writing Python tests.
pytest-advanced
laurigates/claude-plugins
Advanced pytest: fixtures, markers, parametrization, parallel execution. Use when implementing test infrastructure, writing fixtures, or running with coverage.
uv-workspaces
laurigates/claude-plugins
Manage multi-package Python projects with uv workspaces. Use when the user mentions uv workspaces, Python monorepo, shared lockfiles, or member dependencies.
basedpyright-type-checking
laurigates/claude-plugins
Open the skill to read its SKILL.md instructions.
Popular other skills
hyperframes-cli
heygen-com/hyperframes
The HyperFrames CLI by job - scaffold, check, look at frames, edit the timeline, preview, render locally or in the cloud, publish, project history - plus reading its JSON and recovering from build or render failures.
triage
mattpocock/skills
Move issues and external PRs through a state machine of triage roles, categorise, verify, grill if needed, and write agent-ready briefs.
ask-matt
mattpocock/skills
Ask which skill or flow fits your situation. A router over the skills in this repo.
to-questionnaire
mattpocock/skills
Turn a decision you can't fully answer into a questionnaire for someone else to fill in.
loop-me
mattpocock/skills
Grill me about specs for the workflows I want to build, within this workspace.