---

name: refactoring description: Improve code structure and maintainability while strictly preserving existing behavior.

Skill: Refactoring

See also: AGENT_SYSTEM.md

Phase

• Change

Purpose

• Improve structure while preserving behavior (unless explicitly told otherwise).

Use When

• “Refactor this”
• “Clean this up”
• “Split this file”
• “Make it more maintainable”

Inputs to Request (only if unclear)

• What’s the pain (readability/testability/perf)?
• Must behavior remain identical?
• Acceptable blast radius (small/medium/large)?

Workflow

• State the problem (“regret check”):
  • what’s hard today
  • what will be better after
• Confirm constraints:
  • behavior-preserving by default
• Choose approach:
  • Small: local cleanup
  • Medium: extract modules/helpers
  • Large: phases + SCRATCHPAD.md
• Implement incrementally:
  • avoid mixing new features
• Proof of Life:
  • tests if available, otherwise manual steps

Output

• Problem
• Approach
• Changes made
• Proof of Life
• Follow-ups (optional)

Memory

• Append one line to JOURNAL.md