Deadcode

deadcode

scan the project for unused code, list every finding with reasoning, then clean up after approval.

steps

1. run knip to detect dead code:

   npx knip
   

2. present findings as a table with columns:

   • item (file, export, dependency, or type)
   • location (file path and line number)
   • reason it's flagged (nothing imports it, no file references it, etc.)

3. verify each finding before recommending deletion:

   • grep the codebase for references (imports, dynamic requires, string references)
   • check if it's used in scripts, configs, or tests that knip might miss
   • check if it's a public API entry point that external consumers use
   • flag anything uncertain as "needs review" instead of "safe to delete"

4. wait for approval before making any changes. never auto-delete.

5. after approval, make changes and run the build to confirm nothing broke.

what it catches

• unused files: components, utils, pages that nothing imports
• unused exports: exported functions, types, constants that nothing outside the file uses
• unused dependencies: packages in package.json that no file imports
• unused devDependencies: dev packages that no config or script references
• unlisted dependencies: packages used in code but missing from package.json
• unused types: exported TypeScript types with no external consumers

rules

• never delete without showing findings and getting approval first
• always verify with grep before calling something unused. knip can miss dynamic imports, barrel files, and config references
• always run the build after cleanup to catch breakage
• if a dependency is only used in a script (not src/), check scripts before flagging
• commit cleanup separately from feature work