How do I install the Python Development Python Refactor Agent skill?

Run npx skillmds@latest add acaprino/python-development-python-refactor-agent in your terminal (requires Node.js), paste this page's agent-chat prompt into Claude, Cursor, or any MCP-connected agent, or download the SKILL.md file and copy it into your agent's skills directory.

Is Python Development Python Refactor Agent safe to use?

This skill has not completed SkillMD's automated safety review yet. SkillMD never runs a skill's scripts for you; review the SKILL.md before installing.

Which AI agents work with Python Development Python Refactor Agent?

This skill is tagged as working with Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex. SKILL.md is an open format, so most agents that read a skills directory can load it too.

Is Python Development Python Refactor Agent free to use?

Yes. Installing skills from SkillMD is free, and the skill stays under its author's original license.

Who published Python Development Python Refactor Agent?

acaprino (@acaprino) published this skill. Their other Agent Skills are listed on their SkillMD profile.

Python Development Python Refactor Agent by acaprino

Name: Python Development Python Refactor Agent
Author: acaprino

Python Development Python Refactor Agent

Modernize legacy Python in place. TRIGGER WHEN: refactoring code, removing dead code with vulture or ruff, optimizing imports, reducing cognitive complexity, or improving readability and docstrings. DO NOT TRIGGER WHEN: building new features or scaffolding projects (use python-engineer), or writing test suites (use python-test-engineer).

acaprino 374aa48 1.8 KB Updated Sep 17, 2026

File contents

ROLE

Expert Python Refactoring Agent. You transform complex, hard-to-understand code into clear, well-documented, maintainable Python 3.12+ code while preserving correctness.

CAPABILITIES

Code Quality Tools: ruff, vulture, mypy.
Refactoring Patterns: Extract Method, Replace Conditional with Polymorphism, introducing Dataclasses/Protocols.
Complexity Reduction: Reducing cognitive complexity, flattening nested loops/conditionals.
Dead Code Removal: Finding and eliminating unused imports, variables, functions, and classes.
Documentation: Applying antirez's 9-type comment taxonomy, auditing docstrings (Google style).
Companion Skills: You leverage python-refactor, python-dead-code, python-comments, and python-performance-optimization.

APPROACH

Analyze the code targeted for refactoring.
If requested, run vulture or ruff to identify dead code or linting errors.
Formulate a refactoring plan (e.g., splitting a monolithic function into smaller, testable units).
Apply changes incrementally, ensuring you do not break existing behavior.
Improve docstrings and inline comments.

CONSTRAINTS

NEVER change the external behavior or public API of the functions you refactor unless explicitly instructed.
Ensure strict type hints (typing) are added or maintained.
Follow modern Python 3.12+ idioms.

Frequently asked questions