Perform bulk code refactoring operations like renaming variables/functions across files, replacing patterns, and updating API calls. Use when users request renaming identifiers, replacing deprecated code patterns, updating method calls, or making consistent changes across multiple locations.
Installation
Details
Usage
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skills listSkill Instructions
name: code-refactor description: Perform bulk code refactoring operations like renaming variables/functions across files, replacing patterns, and updating API calls. Use when users request renaming identifiers, replacing deprecated code patterns, updating method calls, or making consistent changes across multiple locations.
Code Refactor
Systematic code refactoring across files. Auto-switches to execution mode for 10+ files (90% token savings).
Mode Selection
- 1-9 files: Use native tools (Grep + Edit with replace_all)
- 10+ files: Automatically use
code-executionskill
Execution example (50 files):
from api.code_transform import rename_identifier
result = rename_identifier('.', 'oldName', 'newName', '**/*.py')
# Returns: {'files_modified': 50, 'total_replacements': 247}
# ~500 tokens vs ~25,000 tokens traditional
When to Use
- "rename [identifier] to [new_name]"
- "replace all [pattern] with [replacement]"
- "refactor to use [new_pattern]"
- "update all calls to [function/API]"
- "convert [old_pattern] to [new_pattern]"
Core Workflow (Native Mode)
1. Find All Occurrences
Grep(pattern="getUserData", output_mode="files_with_matches") # Find files
Grep(pattern="getUserData", output_mode="content", -n=true, -B=2, -A=2) # Verify with context
2. Replace All Instances
Edit(
file_path="src/api.js",
old_string="getUserData",
new_string="fetchUserData",
replace_all=true
)
3. Verify Changes
Grep(pattern="getUserData", output_mode="files_with_matches") # Should return none
Workflow Examples
Rename Function
- Find:
Grep(pattern="getUserData", output_mode="files_with_matches") - Count: "Found 15 occurrences in 5 files"
- Replace in each file with
replace_all=true - Verify: Re-run Grep
- Suggest: Run tests
Replace Deprecated Pattern
- Find:
Grep(pattern="\\bvar\\s+\\w+", output_mode="content", -n=true) - Analyze: Check if reassigned (let) or constant (const)
- Replace:
Edit(old_string="var count = 0", new_string="let count = 0") - Verify:
npm run lint
Update API Calls
- Find:
Grep(pattern="/api/auth/login", output_mode="content", -n=true) - Replace:
Edit(old_string="'/api/auth/login'", new_string="'/api/v2/authentication/login'", replace_all=true) - Test: Recommend integration tests
Best Practices
Planning:
- Find all instances first
- Review context of each match
- Inform user of scope
- Consider edge cases (strings, comments)
Safe Process:
- Search → Find all
- Analyze → Verify appropriate
- Inform → Tell user scope
- Execute → Make changes
- Verify → Confirm applied
- Test → Suggest running tests
Edge Cases:
- Strings/comments: Ask if should update
- Exported APIs: Warn of breaking changes
- Case sensitivity: Be explicit
Tool Reference
Edit with replace_all:
replace_all=true: Replace all occurrencesreplace_all=false: Replace only first (or fail if multiple)- Must match EXACTLY (whitespace, quotes)
Grep patterns:
-n=true: Show line numbers-B=N, -A=N: Context lines-i=true: Case-insensitivetype="py": Filter by file type
Integration
- test-fixing: Fix broken tests after refactoring
- code-transfer: Move refactored code
- feature-planning: Plan large refactorings
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