MCPInstall

refactor

Code refactoring workflow - analyze → plan → implement → review → validate

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Install

Works with every agent the skills CLI supports.

npx skills add https://github.com/parcadei/continuous-claude-v3 --skill refactor
  1. 01

    Install

    Run the command in your project. The CLI asks which agents to install for.

  2. 02

    Describe the task

    Ask your agent for something this skill covers. It loads refactor automatically when relevant.

  3. 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.

/refactor - Refactoring Workflow

Safe refactoring with review gates.

When to Use

  • "Refactor X"
  • "Clean up this code"
  • "Extract this into a module"
  • "Improve the architecture of Y"
  • Large-scale code restructuring
  • Technical debt reduction

Workflow Overview

┌──────────┐    ┌────────────┐    ┌──────────┐    ┌──────────┐    ┌───────────┐
│ phoenix  │───▶│   plan-    │───▶│  kraken  │───▶│plan-reviewer│───▶│ arbiter  │
│          │    │   agent    │    │          │    │          │    │           │
└──────────┘    └────────────┘    └──────────┘    └──────────┘    └───────────┘
  Analyze         Plan             Implement       Review          Verify
  current         changes          refactor        changes         tests pass

Agent Sequence

#AgentRoleOutput
1phoenixAnalyze current code, identify improvement areasAnalysis report
2plan-agentCreate safe refactoring planStep-by-step plan
3krakenImplement the refactoringCode changes
4plan-reviewerReview changes for correctnessReview report
5arbiterVerify all tests still passTest report

Refactoring Principles

  1. Tests first: Ensure adequate test coverage before refactoring
  2. Small steps: Each change should be independently verifiable
  3. Behavior preserved: No functional changes during refactor
  4. Reviewable: Changes should be easy to review

Execution

Phase 1: Analyze

Task(
  subagent_type="phoenix",
  prompt="""
  Analyze for refactoring: [TARGET_CODE]

  Identify:
  - Current pain points
  - Code smells
  - Improvement opportunities
  - Risk areas
  - Test coverage gaps
  """
)

Phase 2: Plan

Task(
  subagent_type="plan-agent",
  prompt="""
  Plan refactoring: [TARGET_CODE]

  Analysis: [from phoenix]

  Create:
  - Step-by-step refactoring plan
  - Each step should be:
    - Small and focused
    - Independently testable
    - Reversible
  - Identify files affected
  - Risk mitigation strategy
  """
)

Phase 3: Implement

Task(
  subagent_type="kraken",
  prompt="""
  Implement refactoring: [TARGET_CODE]

  Plan: [from plan-agent]

  Requirements:
  - Follow plan exactly
  - Run tests after each step
  - Stop if tests fail
  - NO behavior changes
  """
)

Phase 4: Review

Task(
  subagent_type="plan-reviewer",
  prompt="""
  Review refactoring: [TARGET_CODE]

  Changes: [git diff from kraken]

  Check:
  - Behavior preserved
  - No unintended changes
  - Code quality improved
  - Patterns consistent
  """
)

Phase 5: Validate

Task(
  subagent_type="arbiter",
  prompt="""
  Validate refactoring: [TARGET_CODE]

  - Run full test suite
  - Verify no regressions
  - Check type errors
  - Run linting
  """
)

Refactoring Types

Extract Module

phoenix → plan-agent → kraken → plan-reviewer → arbiter

Rename/Restructure

phoenix → kraken → arbiter  (simpler, skip detailed planning)

Architecture Change

phoenix → plan-agent → [kraken → plan-reviewer] × N phases → arbiter

Example

User: /refactor Extract the validation logic into a separate module

Claude: Starting /refactor workflow...

Phase 1: Analyzing current structure...
[Spawns phoenix]
Found: Validation logic spread across 4 files
- form.ts (lines 45-120)
- api.ts (lines 200-280)
- user.ts (lines 15-45)
- order.ts (lines 88-130)

Phase 2: Planning extraction...
[Spawns plan-agent]
Plan:
1. Create src/validation/index.ts
2. Extract common validators
3. Update imports one file at a time
4. Run tests after each change

Phase 3: Implementing...
[Spawns kraken]
Completed all 4 steps, tests green after each

Phase 4: Reviewing changes...
[Spawns plan-reviewer]
✅ All behavior preserved
✅ DRY improved (removed 45 duplicate lines)
✅ New structure consistent

Phase 5: Final validation...
[Spawns arbiter]
✅ 312 tests passing, 0 regressions

Refactoring complete!

Safety Flags

  • --dry-run: Plan but don't implement
  • --step-by-step: Pause after each change for approval
  • --coverage-check: Require >80% coverage before proceeding

FAQ

What does the refactor skill do?

Code refactoring workflow - analyze → plan → implement → review → validate

How do I install refactor?

Run npx skills add https://github.com/parcadei/continuous-claude-v3 --skill refactor 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/refactor/ (personal) or .claude/skills/refactor/ (project).

Which AI agents can use refactor?

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 refactor 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 refactor?

It is published by parcadei in parcadei/continuous-claude-v3. It has 621 recorded installs.

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