# Refactor

> Refactor code to improve structure and maintainability

- Skill: `vstorm-co/refactor` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds add vstorm-co/refactor`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/vstorm-co/refactor/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: vstorm-co (https://skillmd.com/u/vstorm-co)
- Updated: 2026-09-10
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/vstorm-co/refactor

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# Refactor

Improve code structure without changing external behavior.

## Process

1. **Understand** — Read all related code, run existing tests
2. **Plan** — Identify what to change and why
3. **Execute** — Make changes incrementally
4. **Verify** — Run tests after each change

## Common Refactoring Patterns

### Extract
- Long function → smaller focused functions
- Repeated code → shared helper
- Magic numbers → named constants

### Simplify
- Deep nesting → early returns / guard clauses
- Complex conditionals → descriptive functions
- Large classes → smaller focused classes

### Rename
- Unclear names → descriptive names
- Inconsistent naming → consistent conventions

### Reorganize
- Related functions scattered → grouped in modules
- Circular dependencies → dependency inversion

## Rules

- Never change behavior — tests must pass before and after
- One refactoring type per commit
- If tests don't exist, write them first
- Don't refactor and add features in the same change