# Refactor To Scheme

> Guidelines for moving logic from JavaScript to Scheme (Schemification). Use when this capability is needed.

- Skill: `tomevault-io/refactor-to-scheme` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add tomevault-io/refactor-to-scheme`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/tomevault-io/refactor-to-scheme/raw
- Safety review: pending (external: skill-scanner PASS, skillspector PASS)
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: tomevault-io (https://skillmd.com/u/tomevault-io)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/tomevault-io/refactor-to-scheme

---


# Refactor to Scheme

This skill guides you through refactoring existing JavaScript logic into Scheme. The project philosophy is **Scheme over JS**: implement as much as possible in Scheme, using JS only for the bare minimum (primitives, IO, DOM).

## Criteria

*   **Move to Scheme**: Core logic, algorithms, transformation steps, initialization sequences.
*   **Keep in JS**: Low-level DOM manipulation, browser APIs, Node.js APIs, performance-critical hot loops (only if proven slow in Scheme).

## Steps

### 1. Analyze and Plan

1.  Identify the JavaScript file/functionality to convert.
2.  Determine dependencies: what JS primitives does it need?
3.  Design the Scheme interface.

### 2. Implement Scheme Replacement

1.  Create a new Scheme library (see **Create Library** skill) or add to an existing one.
2.  Implement the logic in Scheme.
3.  If you need to call this from JavaScript (e.g., during startup), ensure it's exported or registered.
    *   *Note: Code in `(define-library ...)` is executed when loaded.*

### 3. Bridge Primitives (If needed)

If the new Scheme code needs access to specific JS features it didn't have before, create new primitives (see **Implement Primitive** skill).

### 4. Remove/Minimize JavaScript

1.  Delete the old JavaScript logic.
2.  Refactor the JS entry point to just load/invoke the Scheme code.

### 5. Update Tests

1.  Port existing JS unit tests to Scheme (preferred).
2.  If strictly JS interoperability tests, update them to call the new Scheme implementation via `interop` or the interpreter instance.

## Example: Refactoring Initialization

**Before (JS):**
```javascript
function init() {
  setupWorkspace();
  loadBlocks();
}
```

**After (Scheme):**
```scheme
;; src/scheme/init.scm
(define (init)
  (setup-workspace)
  (load-blocks))
```
**After (JS):**
```javascript
interpreter.eval('(init)');
```

---
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<!-- tomevault:4.0:skill_md:2026-04-11 -->