Code Simplifier

SkillDev tools

Final simplification pass over recently changed code without changing behavior. Use after implementation or when explicitly asked to simplify, clean up, or refactor.

Instructions available. Your AI can read the instructions. Execution depends on the setup they require.

Add ahel to your AI once: Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor, Claude Code or Codex. Then ask it to use this.

Then ask your AI: use the Code Simplifier skill

What this skill tells your AI

The instructions your AI receives, as published by caarlos0/dotfiles in skills/code-simplifier/SKILL.md and read by ahel’s review.

Run after the behavior is correct. Repository instructions and correctness or language specialists take precedence; output-style skills affect presentation only.

Scope

Inspect only the current change against its base. Follow references outside the diff only to remove code orphaned by this change or text made false by it.

Read repository instructions and the matching guide under languages/:

  • TypeScript: languages/typescript.md
  • JavaScript: languages/javascript.md
  • Go: languages/go.md
  • Rust: languages/rust.md
  • Python: languages/python.md
  • CSS: languages/css.md

Pass

  • Preserve APIs, signatures, outputs, and behavior.
  • Remove unnecessary indirection, one-use abstractions, repeated branches, and comments that restate code.
  • Prefer clear statements over clever expressions.
  • Keep small intentional duplication when extraction would obscure behavior.
  • Use the standard library instead of adding a dependency.
  • Keep visibility private unless callers require otherwise.
  • Update comments, docs, errors, and names made false by the change.
  • Search the repository before deleting apparently unused code; account for tests, registration, reflection, configuration keys, and public consumers.
  • Update tests only when needed to preserve coverage after a legitimate refactor. Do not weaken assertions or alter expected behavior.

Do not reorder imports, mix unrelated cleanup into the diff, or redesign a working API. If simplification materially expands the diff, leave the code alone and explain why.

Use validation already run for the implementation. Run an additional targeted check only when this pass changes something not covered by it. Never stage or commit.

Signals

GitHub stars
220
Forks
11
Last commit
Oct 2026
Advanced
Item type
skill
Key
code-simplifier-caarlos0
Source
github.com/caarlos0/dotfiles