---

name: refactor description: Safely restructure code without changing behavior. Use when refactoring, cleaning up code smells, or improving code quality.

Refactor Skill

Instructions

• Tests exist for the code
• All tests pass before starting
• Code is committed (can revert)

Steps

1. Identify Refactoring Target

   Common refactoring candidates:

   • Long functions (> 50 lines)
   • Deep nesting (> 3 levels)
   • Duplicate code
   • Large classes
   • Long parameter lists
   • Feature envy

2. Ensure Test Coverage

   Copypnpm test -- --coverage path/to/file
   

   If coverage is low, add tests first!

3. Choose Refactoring Pattern

   Problem	Refactoring
   Long function	Extract Function
   Duplicate code	Extract Function/Class
   Long parameter list	Introduce Parameter Object
   Deep nesting	Early Return, Extract Function
   Large class	Extract Class
   Feature envy	Move Method
   Magic values	Replace with Constants
   Conditionals	Replace with Polymorphism

4. Apply Refactoring (Small Steps)

   • Make ONE change at a time
   • Run tests after each change
   • Commit after each successful refactoring

5. Verify Behavior Unchanged

   Copypnpm test
   pnpm build
   

Refactoring Patterns

Extract Function

Copy// Before
function processOrder(order: Order) {
  // Validate
  if (!order.items || order.items.length === 0) {
    throw new Error("Empty order");
  }
  if (!order.customer) {
    throw new Error("No customer");
  }

  // Calculate totals
  let subtotal = 0;
  for (const item of order.items) {
    subtotal += item.price * item.quantity;
  }
  const tax = subtotal * 0.1;
  const total = subtotal + tax;

  // Save
  db.orders.create({ ...order, subtotal, tax, total });
}

// After
function processOrder(order: Order) {
  validateOrder(order);
  const totals = calculateTotals(order.items);
  saveOrder(order, totals);
}

function validateOrder(order: Order) {
  if (!order.items?.length) throw new Error("Empty order");
  if (!order.customer) throw new Error("No customer");
}

function calculateTotals(items: OrderItem[]) {
  const subtotal = items.reduce(
    (sum, item) => sum + item.price * item.quantity,
    0,
  );
  const tax = subtotal * TAX_RATE;
  return { subtotal, tax, total: subtotal + tax };
}

Early Return

Copy// Before
function getDiscount(user: User) {
  let discount = 0;
  if (user) {
    if (user.isActive) {
      if (user.membership === "gold") {
        discount = 0.2;
      } else if (user.membership === "silver") {
        discount = 0.1;
      } else {
        discount = 0.05;
      }
    }
  }
  return discount;
}

// After
function getDiscount(user: User) {
  if (!user?.isActive) return 0;

  const discounts: Record<string, number> = {
    gold: 0.2,
    silver: 0.1,
  };

  return discounts[user.membership] ?? 0.05;
}

Introduce Parameter Object

Copy// Before
function createUser(
  name: string,
  email: string,
  age: number,
  address: string,
  phone: string,
) {
  /* ... */
}

// After
interface CreateUserData {
  name: string;
  email: string;
  age?: number;
  address?: string;
  phone?: string;
}

function createUser(data: CreateUserData) {
  /* ... */
}

Replace Conditional with Polymorphism

Copy// Before
function calculateShipping(order: Order) {
  switch (order.shippingType) {
    case "standard":
      return order.weight * 1.5;
    case "express":
      return order.weight * 3.0 + 10;
    case "overnight":
      return order.weight * 5.0 + 25;
    default:
      throw new Error("Unknown shipping type");
  }
}

// After
interface ShippingStrategy {
  calculate(weight: number): number;
}

class StandardShipping implements ShippingStrategy {
  calculate(weight: number) {
    return weight * 1.5;
  }
}

class ExpressShipping implements ShippingStrategy {
  calculate(weight: number) {
    return weight * 3.0 + 10;
  }
}

class OvernightShipping implements ShippingStrategy {
  calculate(weight: number) {
    return weight * 5.0 + 25;
  }
}

const shippingStrategies: Record<string, ShippingStrategy> = {
  standard: new StandardShipping(),
  express: new ExpressShipping(),
  overnight: new OvernightShipping(),
};

function calculateShipping(order: Order) {
  const strategy = shippingStrategies[order.shippingType];
  if (!strategy) throw new Error("Unknown shipping type");
  return strategy.calculate(order.weight);
}

Safety Checklist

Before refactoring:

• Tests exist and pass
• Code is committed

During refactoring:

• One change at a time
• Tests after each change
• Commit frequently

After refactoring:

• All tests pass
• Build succeeds
• No behavior changes
• Code is cleaner

When to Stop

• Tests start failing → Revert last change
• Unsure about change → Stop and ask
• Scope creeping → Commit current work, create new task