How do I install the Architect skill?

Run npx skillmds add majiayu000/architect-8 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.

What does the Architect skill do?

Architectural refactoring - analyze codebase structure, detect architectural smells (god modules, circular deps, coupling), propose restructuring plan, safely move/rename files with git history, update imports, simplify architecture. Use when asked to "restructure", "reorganize", "simplify architecture", "move files", "split module", "fix structure", "reduce coupling", "reorganize folders", "clean up architecture", "refactor structure", "restructurer", "reorganiser", "simplifier". It is listed under Productivity on SkillMD.

Is Architect safe to use?

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

Which AI agents work with Architect?

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 Architect free to use?

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

Who published Architect?

majiayu000 (@majiayu000) published this skill. Their other Agent Skills are listed on their SkillMD profile.

Architect by majiayu000 — Agent Skill

Name: Architect
Rating: 4.2 (5 reviews)
Author: majiayu000

Full codebase audit + restructure:

/architect -a full codebase restructure

Audit only (no changes):

/architect -s audit auth module

What it does:

AUDIT: Scans structure, detects architectural smells (god modules, circular deps, coupling)
DESIGN: Proposes restructuring plan with file moves, splits, renames
RESTRUCTURE: Executes safely with git mv, import migration, incremental commits
VERIFY: Build, tests, import validation

Flag	Description
`-a`	Auto mode: skip confirmations, execute full workflow
`-e`	Economy mode: no subagents, direct tools only
`-s`	Save mode: output to `.claude/output/architect/`
`--audit-only`	Stop after audit step (no restructuring)
`--dry-run`	Show proposed changes without executing
`--standalone`	Use built-in RESTRUCTURE + VERIFY instead of APEX handoff

AUDIT ─ Detect smells, map dependencies, measure complexity DESIGN ─ Propose structure, file moves, module splits HANDOFF ─ Save design context file, offer APEX implementation RESTRUCTURE ─ git mv, update imports, incremental commits (--standalone) VERIFY ─ Build, test, import validation (--standalone)

</workflow>

<state_variables>

| Variable | Type | Description |
|----------|------|-------------|
| `{scope}` | string | Target area to restructure |
| `{task_id}` | string | Kebab-case identifier |
| `{auto_mode}` | boolean | Skip confirmations |
| `{economy_mode}` | boolean | No subagents |
| `{save_mode}` | boolean | Save outputs |
| `{audit_only}` | boolean | Stop after audit |
| `{dry_run}` | boolean | Preview only |
| `{standalone_mode}` | boolean | Use built-in restructure + verify |
| `{smells}` | array | Detected architectural smells |
| `{dependency_map}` | object | File dependency graph |
| `{move_plan}` | array | Planned file operations |

</state_variables>

<reference_files>

| File | When Loaded |
|------|-------------|
| `references/architecture-smells.md` | Always (step-01) |
| `references/architecture-patterns.md` | Step-02 (design phase) |
| `references/restructuring-techniques.md` | Step-03 (execution phase) |

</reference_files>

<entry_point>

Load `steps/step-01-audit.md`

</entry_point>

<step_files>

| Step | File | Purpose |
|------|------|---------|
| 01 | `step-01-audit.md` | Structure analysis + smell detection |
| 02 | `step-02-design.md` | Restructuring plan |
| 03 | `step-03-handoff.md` | Save design context + offer APEX (default) |
| 03-alt | `step-03-restructure.md` | Safe execution (`--standalone` only) |
| 04-alt | `step-04-verify.md` | Build + validation (`--standalone` only) |

</step_files>

<execution_rules>
- Load one step at a time
- NEVER move files without reading them first
- ALWAYS use `git mv` to preserve history
- ALWAYS update imports after every move
- Use parallel agents in step-01 and step-03 (unless economy mode)
- Incremental commits after each logical group of changes
- Build must pass before marking complete
</execution_rules>

<success_criteria>
- Architectural smells correctly identified
- Dependency map accurately captures relationships
- Restructuring plan approved before execution
- All file moves use `git mv` (history preserved)
- All imports updated across codebase
- No circular dependencies introduced
- Build passes without errors
- Tests pass (if tests exist)
- Cleaner, simpler structure achieved
</success_criteria>

Architect

File contents

Frequently asked questions