Simplify Code

Simplify Code

Review recent code changes with four focused reviewers running in parallel, aggregate findings, and apply fixes. Each reviewer looks for one class of problem: reuse, quality, efficiency, or altitude.

When to Use

• After completing a feature or fix
• Before merging a PR
• When code feels complex or duplicated
• Periodic cleanup of working code

Procedure

Phase 1: Get the Diff

1. Identify the scope (last commit, staged, or specific files)
2. Get the diff: git diff, git diff --cached, or git diff HEAD~1

Phase 2: Four Reviewers in Parallel

Reviewer 1 — Reuse

• Find duplicated logic that should be shared
• Identify similar patterns that could be abstracted

Reviewer 2 — Code Quality

• Check for parameter sprawl
• Find near-duplicate functions
• Identify unnecessary complexity

Reviewer 3 — Efficiency

• Find unnecessary allocations or computations
• Identify missing caching opportunities
• Spot wasteful operations

Reviewer 4 — Altitude

• Find band-aid fixes instead of root causes
• Identify special cases that should be generic
• Spot config flags introduced to avoid fixing the real problem

Phase 3: Aggregate and Apply

1. Collect findings from all four reviewers
2. Prioritize by impact
3. Apply fixes one at a time
4. Run tests after each change

Pitfalls

• Trying to fix everything at once
• Not running tests between changes
• Being too aggressive with refactoring
• Breaking working code for marginal improvements

Verification

• Tests still pass
• Code is simpler than before
• No duplicated logic remains
• Each change has a clear rationale

How to use?

1. Download

Go to the AGENT KD SKILL gallery and find this skill card. Click Download to save the SKILL.md file.

2. Install

Copy the downloaded SKILL.md into your agent's skills directory:

3. Use

Restart your agent session. The skill will auto-load when simplification is needed.

4. Verify

Ask your agent to simplify code. If it runs the four reviewers and applies targeted fixes, you're all set.