MCPInstall

refactoring-specialist

Code refactoring expert for improving code structure, readability, and maintainability. Use when user asks to refactor, clean up, or improve code quality.

Installs
748
Last 24h
—
Trending rank
—
Security
Not audited

Install

Works with every agent the skills CLI supports.

npx skills add https://github.com/zhaono1/agent-playbook --skill refactoring-specialist
  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 refactoring-specialist 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.

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

// 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

// 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

// 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

// Before:
function createUser(name, email, age, address, phone, role) { ... }

// After:
function createUser(user: UserData) { ... }

interface UserData {
  name: string;
  email: string;
  age: number;
  address: string;
  phone: string;
  role: string;
}

5. Feature Envy

Symptom: Method uses more data from other classes

Refactoring: Move Method

// Before:
class Report {
  formatSummary(formatter) {
    const options = formatter.getFormattingOptions();
    // ...
  }
}

// After:
class Formatter {
  formatReport(report) {
    const discount = this.discountLevel;
    // ...
  }
}

6. Data Clumps

Symptom: Same data appearing together

Refactoring: Extract Value Object

// Before:
function drawShape(x, y, width, height) { ... }
function moveShape(x, y, width, height, dx, dy) { ... }

// After:
class Rectangle {
  constructor(x, y, width, height) { ... }
}
function drawShape(rect: Rectangle) { ... }

7. Primitive Obsession

Symptom: Using primitives instead of small objects

Refactoring: Replace Primitive with Object

// Before:
function createUser(name, email, phone) { ... }

// After:
class Email {
  constructor(value) {
    if (!this.isValid(value)) throw new Error('Invalid email');
    this.value = value;
  }
  // ...
}

8. Switch Statements

Symptom: Large switch on type

Refactoring: Replace Conditional with Polymorphism

// Before:
function calculatePay(employee) {
  switch (employee.type) {
    case 'engineer': return employee.salary * 1.2;
    case 'manager': return employee.salary * 1.5;
    case 'sales': return employee.salary * 1.1;
  }
}

// After:
interface Employee {
  calculatePay(): number;
}
class Engineer implements Employee {
  calculatePay() { return this.salary * 1.2; }
}

9. Temporary Field

Symptom: Variables only used in certain scenarios

Refactoring: Extract Class

// Before:
class User {
  calculateRefund() {
    this.tempRefundAmount = 0;
    // complex calculation
    return this.tempRefundAmount;
  }
}

// After:
class RefundCalculator {
  calculate(user) {
    // ...
  }
}

10. Comments

Symptom: Code needs extensive comments

Refactoring: Extract Method with clear name

// Before:
// Calculate the total price including discounts
// and tax based on user location
function calc(u, i) {
  let t = 0;
  // discount logic
  if (u.vip) t *= 0.9;
  // tax logic
  if (u.state === 'CA') t *= 1.08;
  return t;
}

// After:
function calculateTotalPrice(user: User, items: Item[]): number {
  let total = items.sum(i => i.price);
  if (user.isVIP) {
    total = applyVIPDiscount(total);
  }
  return applyTax(total, user.state);
}

Refactoring Steps

  1. Identify the smell - What makes this code hard to work with?
  2. Determine the refactoring - Which technique applies?
  3. Ensure tests pass - Green before starting
  4. Apply the refactoring - Make the change
  5. Run tests - Verify behavior unchanged
  6. Commit - Small, atomic commits

Safe Refactoring Practices

  • Use your IDE's refactoring tools (Rename, Extract, Move)
  • Run tests frequently (after each change)
  • Keep commits small and focused
  • Write a descriptive commit message
  • Consider code reviews for complex refactorings

Before Refactoring

  • Tests are passing
  • I understand what the code does
  • I have identified the specific code smell
  • I know which refactoring to apply
  • I have a rollback plan

After Refactoring

  • Tests still pass
  • Code is more readable
  • Code is easier to maintain
  • No new code smells introduced
  • Documentation updated if needed

References

  • references/smells.md - Complete code smell catalog
  • references/techniques.md - Refactoring techniques
  • references/checklist.md - Refactoring checklist

FAQ

What does the refactoring-specialist skill do?

Code refactoring expert for improving code structure, readability, and maintainability. Use when user asks to refactor, clean up, or improve code quality.

How do I install refactoring-specialist?

Run npx skills add https://github.com/zhaono1/agent-playbook --skill refactoring-specialist 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/refactoring-specialist/ (personal) or .claude/skills/refactoring-specialist/ (project).

Which AI agents can use refactoring-specialist?

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 refactoring-specialist 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 refactoring-specialist?

It is published by zhaono1 in zhaono1/agent-playbook. It has 748 recorded installs.

More from zhaono1/agent-playbook

View all →

self-improving-agent

zhaono1/agent-playbook

Use after a failure, user correction, repeated workflow problem, or validated success reveals a reusable lesson. Captures bounded redacted candidates, runs executable behavior evals, and separates validation from application in durable guidance.

AI & Agents35.1K installs

planning-with-files

zhaono1/agent-playbook

Uses persistent markdown files for general planning, progress tracking, and knowledge storage (Manus-style workflow). Use for multi-step tasks, research projects, or general organization WITHOUT mentioning PRD. For PRD-specific work, use prd-planner skill instead.

security-auditor

zhaono1/agent-playbook

Security vulnerability expert covering OWASP Top 10 and common security issues. Use when conducting security audits or reviewing code for vulnerabilities.

Security1.1K installs

architecting-solutions

zhaono1/agent-playbook

Designs technical solutions and architecture. Use when user says "design solution", "architecture design", "technical design", or "方案设计" WITHOUT mentioning PRD. For PRD-specific work, use prd-planner skill instead.

skill-router

zhaono1/agent-playbook

Routes an agent request to the narrowest matching portable skill when the user asks which skill to use or needs help selecting one across supported hosts.

874 installs

workflow-orchestrator

zhaono1/agent-playbook

Coordinates multi-skill workflows and records or runs follow-up actions when the host runtime supports them. Use when completing PRD creation, implementation, or any milestone that should be evaluated for additional skills.

Popular code quality & workflow skills

View category →

grill-me

mattpocock/skills

A relentless interview to sharpen a plan or design.

Scan a codebase for deepening opportunities, present them as a visual HTML report, then grill through whichever one you pick.

handoff

mattpocock/skills

Compact the current conversation into a handoff document for another agent to pick up.

domain-modeling

mattpocock/skills

Build and sharpen a project's domain model. Use when discussing codebase terminology, writing or editing a GLOSSARY.md, or recording or editing an ADR.

codebase-design

mattpocock/skills

Shared vocabulary for designing deep modules. Use when the user wants to design or improve a module's interface, find deepening opportunities, decide where a seam goes, make code more testable or AI-navigable, or when another skill needs the deep-module vocabulary.

diagnosing-bugs

mattpocock/skills

Diagnosis loop for hard bugs and performance regressions. Use when the user says "diagnose"/"debug this", or reports something broken/throwing/failing/slow.