# Robust Edit

> Use this skill when you need to perform surgical code modifications using the 'replace' tool. It provides a strict protocol to prevent edit failures caused by indentation or literal string mismatches.

- Skill: `0king0p/robust-edit` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add 0king0p/robust-edit`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/0king0p/robust-edit/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: 0King0P (https://skillmd.com/u/0king0p)
- Updated: 2026-09-22
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/0king0p/robust-edit

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# Skill: Robust Surgical Editing

This skill provides a three-step protocol to ensure that the `replace` tool succeeds on the first attempt by eliminating guesswork regarding whitespace and literal content.

## The Protocol

### Step 1: Locating the Target (Grep)
Use `grep_search` with a specific pattern to identify the target file and the approximate line numbers. Do not proceed until you have a confirmed file path and a line number range.

### Step 2: Capturing Literal Content (Read Exact)
Once the region is identified, use `read_file` with the `start_line` and `end_line` parameters.
*   **Goal**: Capture the **EXACT** literal string of the code you intend to replace.
*   **Critical**: This includes all leading/trailing whitespace, tabs, and newline characters.

### Step 3: Executing the Replacement (Replace)
Using the literal string captured in Step 2 as your `old_string`, perform the replacement.
*   **Instruction**: In the `replace` tool call, provide the literal text exactly as it appeared in the `read_file` output.
*   **Validation**: If the tool returns a "replacement failed" error, **DO NOT RETRY** with a guessed string. Repeat Step 2 to re-capture the literal content and identify any invisible characters or unexpected formatting.

## Best Practices
- **Minimize Scope**: Keep the `old_string` as small as possible while remaining unique.
- **Avoid Wildcards**: The `replace` tool expects a literal match. Do not use regex or placeholders in `old_string`.
- **Batching**: You can read multiple regions in parallel before executing a batch of replacements.