refactor

Test-first refactoring. Audit coverage, add characterization tests if missing, apply changes with safety net.

NOT for:

• bug fixes (use /develop:fix)
• new features (use /develop:feature)
• .claude/ config changes (use /foundry:manage (requires foundry plugin))
• non-Python projects (JS/TS/Go/Rust) — toolchain assumes pytest; use language-native toolchain instead
• mixed refactor+feature tasks — run /develop:refactor first, then /develop:feature; do not attempt both in single skill run

Quality stack (Branch Safety Guard, Codex Pre-pass, Progressive Review) requires foundry plugin; when absent, Step 5 quality stack skipped with a visible warning — output lower quality but workflow still completes.

• MAX_INNER_CYCLES: 5 (change-test cycles per outer session — Step 4 safety break)

• Key boundary: end of Step 2 — coverage audit complete, before characterization test writing in Step 3.
• Second boundary: end of Step 4 — refactor edits applied, before review stack in Step 5.
• Preserve at boundary 1: dev-dir, target path, coverage audit summary, plan-file, --keep items.
• Preserve at boundary 2: dev-dir, changed files list, test outcomes.

Agent Resolution

export CSID="${CLAUDE_CODE_SESSION_ID:-$PPID}"
_DEV_SHARED=$(python "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT:-plugins/cc_develop}/bin/dev_shared_resolve.py" 2>/dev/null)  # timeout: 5000
[ -z "$_DEV_SHARED" ] && _DEV_SHARED="plugins/cc_develop/skills/_shared"
echo "$_DEV_SHARED" > "${TMPDIR:-/tmp}/dev-shared-${CSID}"  # cold resolve — every later block warm-reads this
# loads: compaction-contract.md
cat "$_DEV_SHARED/agent-resolution.md"

Contains: foundry check + fallback table. If foundry not installed: substitute each foundry:X with general-purpose per table. Agents skill uses: foundry:sw-engineer, foundry:qa-specialist, foundry:linting-expert, foundry:challenger.

export CSID="${CLAUDE_CODE_SESSION_ID:-$PPID}"
IFS= read -r _DEV_SHARED < "${TMPDIR:-/tmp}/dev-shared-${CSID}" 2>/dev/null || _DEV_SHARED=""  # timeout: 5000
[ -z "$_DEV_SHARED" ] && _DEV_SHARED="plugins/cc_develop/skills/_shared"
cat "$_DEV_SHARED/task-hygiene.md"

Project Detection

export CSID="${CLAUDE_CODE_SESSION_ID:-$PPID}"
IFS= read -r _DEV_SHARED < "${TMPDIR:-/tmp}/dev-shared-${CSID}" 2>/dev/null || _DEV_SHARED=""  # timeout: 5000
[ -z "$_DEV_SHARED" ] && _DEV_SHARED="plugins/cc_develop/skills/_shared"
cat "$_DEV_SHARED/runner-detection.md"

Sets $TEST_CMD (full suite) and $PYTEST_CMD (pytest flags). Run at skill start.

Optional --plan <path>: if $ARGUMENTS contains --plan <path> (at any position), read plan file first. Extract Affected files, Risks, Suggested approach — use to inform Step 1 scope analysis. Skip redundant codebase exploration for already-classified files. Store plan path as PLAN_FILE.

export CSID="${CLAUDE_CODE_SESSION_ID:-$PPID}"
IFS= read -r _DEV_SHARED < "${TMPDIR:-/tmp}/dev-shared-${CSID}" 2>/dev/null || _DEV_SHARED=""  # timeout: 5000
[ -z "$_DEV_SHARED" ] && _DEV_SHARED="plugins/cc_develop/skills/_shared"
cat "$_DEV_SHARED/preflight-helpers.md"

Execute --plan path extraction; sets $PLAN_FILE.

Checkpoint init: create .developments/<TS>/ run directory, capture path in $DEV_DIR (assigned in the block below). Write checkpoint.md inside $DEV_DIR. After each major step (1, 2, 3, 4, 5), append step: N — completed to $DEV_DIR/checkpoint.md. On skill start, check for existing .developments/*/checkpoint.md — offer resume from last completed step if found.

# persist DEV_DIR for compaction recovery — bash state lost between Bash() calls
export CSID="${CLAUDE_CODE_SESSION_ID:-$PPID}"
DEV_DIR=$(python "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT:-plugins/cc_develop}/bin/dev_run_dir.py" 2>/dev/null)  # timeout: 5000
echo "$DEV_DIR" > "${TMPDIR:-/tmp}/dev-refactor-dev-dir-${CSID}"

Flag parsing

Parse flags into actual shell variables (not prose) so downstream blocks see correct values. Persist to temp files for cross-block access (bash state lost between Bash() calls):

export CSID="${CLAUDE_CODE_SESSION_ID:-$PPID}"
KEEP_ITEMS=""
if [[ "$ARGUMENTS" =~ --keep[[:space:]]\"([^\"]+)\" ]]; then
    KEEP_ITEMS="${BASH_REMATCH[1]}"
fi
echo "$KEEP_ITEMS" > "${TMPDIR:-/tmp}/dev-refactor-keep-items-${CSID}"
rm -f .temp/state/skill-contract.md  # timeout: 5000

# timeout: 10000
python "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT:-plugins/cc_develop}/bin/dev_parse_args.py" \
    --skill refactor --write-files "$ARGUMENTS"

Downstream blocks read back, e.g. IFS= read -r TEAM_MODE < "${TMPDIR:-/tmp}/dev-team-mode-${CSID}" 2>/dev/null || TEAM_MODE=false.

Codemap flag parsing — derive raw flag into a real shell variable, then normalize via codemap_resolve.py. Uses skill-specific temp file (dev-refactor-codemap-raw-${CSID}) to avoid reading stale values from prior feature/debug runs:

# timeout: 5000
export CSID="${CLAUDE_CODE_SESSION_ID:-$PPID}"
CODEMAP_RAW=auto
[[ " $ARGUMENTS " == *" --no-codemap "* ]] && CODEMAP_RAW=off
[[ " $ARGUMENTS " == *" --codemap "* ]] && [[ " $ARGUMENTS " != *" --no-codemap "* ]] && CODEMAP_RAW=strict
echo "$CODEMAP_RAW" > ${TMPDIR:-/tmp}/dev-refactor-codemap-raw-${CSID}

Unsupported flag check — after all supported flags extracted, scan $ARGUMENTS for remaining --<token> tokens not in the supported list below. If found: print ! Unknown flag(s): `--<token>`. Supported: `--plan`, `--team`, `--worktree`, `--no-challenge`, `--challenge`, `--codemap`, `--no-codemap`, `--accept-no-plan`, `--semble`, `--repo`, `--keep`. then invoke AskUserQuestion — (a) Abort (stop, re-invoke with correct flags) · (b) Continue ignoring (skip unknown flags, proceed). On Abort: stop.

Worktree isolation

loads: worktree-isolation.md

When --worktree set, offload the whole run into an isolated git worktree — before codemap detection or any edit, so codemap scans + all mutations land in the worktree (per-worktree ephemeral index; parallel runs never share one index).

# timeout: 5000
export CSID="${CLAUDE_CODE_SESSION_ID:-$PPID}"
IFS= read -r WORKTREE_ENABLED < "${TMPDIR:-/tmp}/dev-refactor-worktree-${CSID}" 2>/dev/null; [ "$WORKTREE_ENABLED" = "true" ] || WORKTREE_ENABLED=false

export CSID="${CLAUDE_CODE_SESSION_ID:-$PPID}"
IFS= read -r _DEV_SHARED < "${TMPDIR:-/tmp}/dev-shared-${CSID}" 2>/dev/null || _DEV_SHARED=""  # timeout: 5000
[ -z "$_DEV_SHARED" ] && _DEV_SHARED="plugins/cc_develop/skills/_shared"
cat "$_DEV_SHARED/worktree-isolation.md"

WORKTREE_ENABLED=true → follow §Enter (call EnterWorktree, warm-start codemap). Else skip — run in main tree. Remember the branch for §Exit at Final Report.

Codemap auto-detection — run after flag parsing. Behaviour differs by mode: strict (user explicitly passed --codemap) hard-fails when codemap unavailable; auto and off soft-degrade to false (do not abort skill):

# timeout: 5000
export CSID="${CLAUDE_CODE_SESSION_ID:-$PPID}"
CODEMAP_ENABLED=$(python "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT:-plugins/cc_develop}/bin/dev_codemap_gate.py" refactor) || exit 1
# codemap: integrated-via-shared

loads: codemap-gates.md

export CSID="${CLAUDE_CODE_SESSION_ID:-$PPID}"
IFS= read -r _DEV_SHARED < "${TMPDIR:-/tmp}/dev-shared-${CSID}" 2>/dev/null || _DEV_SHARED=""  # timeout: 5000
[ -z "$_DEV_SHARED" ] && _DEV_SHARED="plugins/cc_develop/skills/_shared"
cat "$_DEV_SHARED/codemap-gates.md"

Follow Gate A and Gate B.

Preflight — if CODEMAP_ENABLED=true:

export CSID="${CLAUDE_CODE_SESSION_ID:-$PPID}"
IFS= read -r _DEV_SHARED < "${TMPDIR:-/tmp}/dev-shared-${CSID}" 2>/dev/null || _DEV_SHARED=""  # timeout: 5000
[ -z "$_DEV_SHARED" ] && _DEV_SHARED="plugins/cc_develop/skills/_shared"
cat "$_DEV_SHARED/preflight-helpers.md"

Execute codemap + semble preflight if respective flags set.

Step 1: Scope and understand

Read target code, build mental model before touching anything.

If <target> is directory: use Glob tool (pattern **/*.py, path <target>) to enumerate Python files.

find <target> -name '*.py' -exec wc -l {} + 2>/dev/null | tail -1

If CODEMAP_ENABLED=true or SEMBLE_ENABLED=true:

export CSID="${CLAUDE_CODE_SESSION_ID:-$PPID}"
IFS= read -r _DEV_SHARED < "${TMPDIR:-/tmp}/dev-shared-${CSID}" 2>/dev/null || _DEV_SHARED=""  # timeout: 5000
[ -z "$_DEV_SHARED" ] && _DEV_SHARED="plugins/cc_develop/skills/_shared"
cat "$_DEV_SHARED/codemap-context.md"

Follow enabled sections (codemap block if CODEMAP_ENABLED, semble companion if SEMBLE_ENABLED). Skip if both false.

Multi-file / API-change scope — extended codemap scan (only when CODEMAP_ENABLED=true): if target is directory, spans multiple files, or goal mentions renaming/restructuring public API (i.e., refactoring NOT limited to internals of single function or class with unchanged public interface):

_ROOT=$(git rev-parse --show-toplevel 2>/dev/null); [ -n "$_ROOT" ] || _ROOT="$PWD"  # timeout: 3000
PROJ=$(basename "$_ROOT")   # raw basename — scanner writes it verbatim, never sanitized
REFACTOR_FILES=$(find <target> -name '*.py' -type f 2>/dev/null)
AFFECTED_MODULES=$(echo "$REFACTOR_FILES" | sed 's|^\./||;s|^src/||;s|\.py$||;s|/|.|g' | grep . || echo "")
_IDX="${CODEMAP_INDEX_DIR:-$_ROOT/.cache/codemap}"   # root-anchored: skill may run from a subdir
if command -v codemap-py >/dev/null 2>&1 && [ -f "${_IDX}/${PROJ}.json" ] && [ -n "$AFFECTED_MODULES" ]; then
    # one batch process for all module rdeps — a per-module query loop pays process spawn + coverage cost N times
    _BATCH_REQ="${TMPDIR:-/tmp}/dev-refactor-rdeps-batch-${CSID:-$PPID}.json"
    python "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT:-plugins/cc_develop}/bin/build_codemap_batch.py" "$_BATCH_REQ" --modules "$(echo $AFFECTED_MODULES)" --queries rdeps
    codemap-py query batch "$_BATCH_REQ" 2>/dev/null
    codemap-py query coupled --top 10
fi

Include ## Scope & Reusability (codemap-py) block in foundry:sw-engineer spawn prompt. If rdeps returns callers outside refactoring scope: flag explicitly — those callers must update or refactoring silently breaks public contract. If CODEMAP_ENABLED=false and scope is multi-file: skip silently.

Spawn foundry:sw-engineer agent to analyze code and identify:

• Public API surface (functions, classes, methods external code calls)
• Internal complexity hotspots (cyclomatic complexity, deep nesting, long functions)
• Code smells relevant to stated goal
• Dependencies and coupling between modules
• Complexity smell: directory or cross-module scope — flag it; consider team mode

export CSID="${CLAUDE_CODE_SESSION_ID:-$PPID}"
IFS= read -r _DEV_SHARED < "${TMPDIR:-/tmp}/dev-shared-${CSID}" 2>/dev/null || _DEV_SHARED=""  # timeout: 5000
[ -z "$_DEV_SHARED" ] && _DEV_SHARED="plugins/cc_develop/skills/_shared"
cat "$_DEV_SHARED/premise-grounding.md"

§Premise Grounding Gate. Apply using refactor context from Skill contexts table.

Goal classification gate: after sw-engineer analysis completes, scan goal text for mixed signals — if goal contains both refactor keywords (rename, extract, restructure, decouple, consolidate) AND feature keywords (add, implement, new, support), ask: "Goal mixes refactoring and feature work — split into two runs." · (a) Abort — run refactor first, then feature · (b) Continue as refactor-only — treat feature additions as out of scope.

Scope gate: if target spans 3+ modules OR 5+ files OR goal mentions any public-API rename — flag complexity smell. Ask: "Narrow scope (Recommended)" / "Proceed anyway".

Both gates evaluate after the same sw-engineer analysis — when BOTH fire, invoke AskUserQuestion ONCE with both questions in the same call (menus stay distinct verbatim; a second sequential window costs another human-idle round trip). Only one fires → single-question call as usual.

export CSID="${CLAUDE_CODE_SESSION_ID:-$PPID}"
IFS= read -r _DEV_SHARED < "${TMPDIR:-/tmp}/dev-shared-${CSID}" 2>/dev/null || _DEV_SHARED=""  # timeout: 5000
[ -z "$_DEV_SHARED" ] && _DEV_SHARED="plugins/cc_develop/skills/_shared"
cat "$_DEV_SHARED/plan-inline.md"

§Inline Plan Generation Protocol. Apply using refactor context from Skill contexts table. On proceed: set PLAN_FILE=<path>; continue to Step 2. On small complexity or ACCEPT_NO_PLAN=true: skip and continue to Step 2.

Challenger gate

Decision — three states (default is NOT "skip": it runs on substantial refactors and auto-skips only small contained ones):

1. --no-challenge (CHALLENGE_ENABLED=false) → skip gate entirely, any size.
2. else --challenge (IFS= read -r CHALLENGE_FORCED < "${TMPDIR:-/tmp}/dev-challenge-forced-${CSID}" 2>/dev/null || CHALLENGE_FORCED=false = true) → always run, even on a small change.
3. else default → run when refactor is substantial (spans multiple files, ≳50 lines, or changes public API / an exported symbol); auto-skip when small (single file, ≲50 lines, no API change) — a contained refactor has little design surface to challenge.

Two flags are opposites for two regimes, which is why both exist: --no-challenge suppresses gate on substantial changes where it would otherwise fire; --challenge forces it on small changes where it would otherwise auto-skip.

Spawn foundry:challenger with scope analysis from Step 1 (affected files, dependencies, coupling, risks):

"Review the refactoring scope and approach. Challenge across all 5 dimensions: Assumptions, Missing Cases, Security Risks, Architectural Concerns, Complexity Creep. Apply mandatory refutation step."

Parse result:

• Blockers found → STOP. Present findings. Don't proceed to Step 2 until user resolves each blocker or explicitly accepts risk.
• Concerns only → surface as advisory before coverage audit; continue.
• No findings / all refuted → proceed.

Step 2: Audit test coverage

Find existing tests for target code:

Use Glob tool (pattern **/test_*.py or **/*_test.py), then Grep tool (pattern <module_name>, output mode files_with_matches) to narrow to those referencing target.

(Use Glob tool — pattern: **/test_*.py — to discover test files; check pyproject.toml [tool.pytest.ini_options] testpaths for configured paths)

# timeout: 600000
# ONE collection pass feeds head-5 sanity print, cov-plugin probe, and module grep — three separate --co runs re-collect the whole suite each time
_CO_OUT=$($PYTEST_CMD --co -q --cov=. 2>&1)
SKIP_COV=0
if echo "$_CO_OUT" | grep -q "ModuleNotFoundError\|No module named.*cov\|unrecognized arguments.*--cov"; then
    echo "⚠ coverage tool not found — coverage gate skipped"
    SKIP_COV=1
    _CO_OUT=$($PYTEST_CMD --co -q 2>&1)   # cov-less re-collect — the probe run errored before listing tests
fi
echo "$_CO_OUT" | head -5
echo "$_CO_OUT" | grep -i "<module_name>" || echo "No tests found for <module_name>"

[ "${SKIP_COV}" -eq 0 ] && { $PYTEST_CMD --cov=<target_module> -q --cov-report=term-missing || true; }

If SKIP_COV=1: skip coverage classification entirely — do not classify any function as UNCOVERED; note "coverage tool absent — coverage audit skipped" in audit output. Step 3 qa-specialist spawn behavior when SKIP_COV=1: spawn qa-specialist with all public functions listed as coverage: unknown and instruction to write characterization tests for every public function (cannot prioritize uncovered functions when coverage unknown — test all to ensure safety net). Proceed to Step 3 with unknown coverage state.

Classify each public function/method (only when SKIP_COV=0):

• Covered: at least one test for happy path + one edge case
• Partially covered: test exists but missing edge cases or failure paths
• Uncovered: no test

Review: Validate the coverage audit

Before writing characterization tests, evaluate audit output critically:

1. Completeness: all public functions, methods, classes identified — including complex call paths?
2. Classification accuracy: each item correctly classified? Partial-covered often misclassified as covered.
3. Refactor relevance: uncovered/partial items in code paths refactoring will touch?
4. Hidden dependencies: integration points or cross-module calls audit may have missed?

If audit incomplete: re-examine before Step 3. Gaps found mid-refactoring (Step 4) costly.

Team mode branch — if TEAM_MODE=true: Steps 1–2 complete solo (teammates need scope + coverage context). Spawn both teammates now; skip Steps 3–5, proceed to Final Report after results received.

loads: team-mode.md — gated; ~90% of runs (--team absent) skip the load entirely

# timeout: 5000
export CSID="${CLAUDE_CODE_SESSION_ID:-$PPID}"
IFS= read -r TEAM_MODE < "${TMPDIR:-/tmp}/dev-team-mode-${CSID}" 2>/dev/null || TEAM_MODE=false
[ "$TEAM_MODE" = "true" ] && cat "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT:-plugins/cc_develop}/skills/refactor/modes/team-mode.md"

Continue to Step 3 only when TEAM_MODE=false.

# boundary 1: after coverage audit, before characterization tests (compaction-contract.md)
export CSID="${CLAUDE_CODE_SESSION_ID:-$PPID}"
IFS= read -r _DEV_DIR < "${TMPDIR:-/tmp}/dev-refactor-dev-dir-${CSID}" 2>/dev/null || _DEV_DIR=""
IFS= read -r _PLAN_FILE < "${TMPDIR:-/tmp}/dev-plan-file-${CSID}" 2>/dev/null || _PLAN_FILE=""
IFS= read -r _KEEP < "${TMPDIR:-/tmp}/dev-refactor-keep-items-${CSID}" 2>/dev/null || _KEEP=""
IFS= read -r _PYTEST_CMD < "${TMPDIR:-/tmp}/dev-pytest-cmd-${CSID}" 2>/dev/null || _PYTEST_CMD=""
_PRESERVE="dev-dir=$_DEV_DIR, plan-file=${_PLAN_FILE:-none}, pytest-cmd=$_PYTEST_CMD"
[ -n "$_KEEP" ] && _PRESERVE="$_PRESERVE; user-keep: $_KEEP"
mkdir -p .temp/state  # timeout: 5000
{
    echo "## Active Skill Contract"
    echo "- skill: develop:refactor · phase: characterize+edit (after coverage audit)"
    echo "- run-dir: $_DEV_DIR"
    echo "- preserve: $_PRESERVE"
    echo "- next: add characterization tests (Step 3) → refactor with safety net (Step 4)"
} > .temp/state/skill-contract.md

Step 3: Add characterization tests (if needed)

For every uncovered or partially covered public API, spawn foundry:qa-specialist to generate characterization tests:

• Import function, call with representative inputs, assert current output
• Use pytest.mark.parametrize for multiple input/output pairs
• Name tests test_<function>_characterization_*

Spawn with context:

• Target module: <module_path>
• Coverage audit results: [paste coverage-audit output showing uncovered/partial functions]
• Uncovered public APIs to test: [list from audit]
• Current code (read target file before writing tests — tests must assert CURRENT behaviour, not desired)
• Test file target: tests/test_<module>_characterization.py
• Test naming: test_<function>_characterization_<scenario>

# timeout: 600000
export CSID="${CLAUDE_CODE_SESSION_ID:-$PPID}"
$PYTEST_CMD <test_file> -v; GATE_EXIT=$?
echo "$GATE_EXIT" > ${TMPDIR:-/tmp}/dev-gate-exit-${CSID}

Gate: all characterization tests must pass before proceeding. Check exit code from persisted file ($? in a fresh shell is unrelated to prior pytest run):

export CSID="${CLAUDE_CODE_SESSION_ID:-$PPID}"
IFS= read -r GATE_EXIT < "${TMPDIR:-/tmp}/dev-gate-exit-${CSID}" 2>/dev/null || GATE_EXIT="1"
if [ "${GATE_EXIT}" -eq 5 ]; then
    echo "GATE FAIL: no tests collected (exit 5) — characterization test file missing or not detected by pytest; cannot proceed to Step 4 without a safety net"
elif [ "$GATE_EXIT" -ne 0 ]; then
    echo "GATE FAIL: characterization test(s) failed (exit $GATE_EXIT) — fix the test, not the code"
else
    echo "GATE OK: all characterization tests pass on unmodified code"
fi

If GATE_EXIT -ne 0 (including exit 5): characterization tests missing or wrong — cannot proceed to Step 4 without a passing safety net. Invoke AskUserQuestion — "Characterization test gate failed (exit $GATE_EXIT). How to proceed?" · (a) Fix test collection path / fix test assertions (recommended — re-spawn qa-specialist with corrected path or assertions) · (b) Proceed without safety net (accept risk — record decision in $DEV_DIR/checkpoint.md) · (c) Abort. On (b): document explicit acceptance in checkpoint.md (step: 3 — gate exit $GATE_EXIT — proceed without safety net (user accepted)) before continuing.

Step 4: Refactor with safety net

For each change:

1. One focused change (single responsibility per edit)
2. Run affected tests (prefer targeted over full characterization suite):

   codemap-py query test-impact "<changed_module>" 2>/dev/null
   

   • Non-empty pytest_cmd → run those tests; surface not_covered caveat if present; fall back to full suite if all tests pass but feel incomplete
   • Empty or unavailable → full suite:

   # timeout: 600000
   $PYTEST_CMD --tb=short <test_files> -v
   

3. Tests pass: proceed to next change
4. Tests fail: revert, try different approach

Safety break: track cycle count and wall time via temp files (bash state lost between Bash() calls — $INNER_CYCLE and $START_TIME declared inline are unavailable in subsequent Bash blocks; persistence is mandatory):

# timeout: 3000
export CSID="${CLAUDE_CODE_SESSION_ID:-$PPID}"
echo "0"             > ${TMPDIR:-/tmp}/dev-inner-cycle-${CSID}
echo "$(date +%s)"   > ${TMPDIR:-/tmp}/dev-start-time-${CSID}
MAX_WALL_SECONDS=1800  # 30 min cap (5 outer × MAX_INNER_CYCLES worst case)

At each inner iteration start, read back, increment, check:

# timeout: 3000
export CSID="${CLAUDE_CODE_SESSION_ID:-$PPID}"
IFS= read -r INNER_CYCLE < "${TMPDIR:-/tmp}/dev-inner-cycle-${CSID}" 2>/dev/null || INNER_CYCLE="0"
IFS= read -r START_TIME < "${TMPDIR:-/tmp}/dev-start-time-${CSID}" 2>/dev/null || START_TIME=$(date +%s)
INNER_CYCLE=$((INNER_CYCLE+1))
echo "$INNER_CYCLE" > ${TMPDIR:-/tmp}/dev-inner-cycle-${CSID}
MAX_INNER_CYCLES=5  # must match constants block — bash can't ref it directly
if [ "$INNER_CYCLE" -gt $MAX_INNER_CYCLES ]; then
    echo "⚠ MAX_INNER_CYCLES ($MAX_INNER_CYCLES) reached — stopping refactor loop; report what succeeded, what broke, what remains"
fi
ELAPSED=$(( $(date +%s) - START_TIME ))
if [ "$ELAPSED" -ge 1800 ]; then
    echo "⚠ wall-time cap reached (30 min) — stopping refactor loop"
fi

After each change-test pair: re-read counter from temp file, increment, write back. Stop when INNER_CYCLE > MAX_INNER_CYCLES or elapsed ≥ MAX_WALL_SECONDS.

Refactoring categories:

• Logic simplification: replace complex conditionals, flatten nesting, extract helpers
• API cleanup: rename for clarity, consolidate parameters, add type annotations
• Structural: extract classes/modules, reduce coupling, apply design patterns
• Performance: replace loops with vectorized ops, reduce allocations, batch I/O
• Dead code removal: remove unused imports, unreachable branches, commented-out code; scan _-prefixed functions with no call sites; flag public methods absent from __init__.py exports