dead-code-removal

Detect and remove unused imports, functions, and classes across multi-language codebases.

4|Updated Dec 23, 2025

Search Tags:#refactoring #analysis #cleanup #backup #dead code #ast

Ready to run

npx skills add https://github.com/89jobrien/steve --skill dead-code-removal

💬 Prompt for ChatGPT / Claude Chat▼

Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: dead-code-removal
Source: https://github.com/89jobrien/steve/tree/main/steve/skills/dead-code-removal
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/89jobrien/steve --skill dead-code-removal

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

💡 This Skill includes scripts (resource) and references (resource) components.

What problem does it solve?

This Skill detects and safely removes unused code with safety checks and incremental removal, to streamline codebases.

Core Features & Use Cases

Language detection and entry point mapping
Dependency analysis and safe removal
Incremental removal with validation
Backup creation

Quick Start

Find and remove unused imports and functions with the included helper script.

Frequently Asked Questions about dead-code-removal

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema

How do I find and remove unused code in my Python, JavaScript, Java, Go, or Rust project?▼

Dead code removal detects unused imports, functions, and classes across multi-language codebases. This Skill analyzes dependencies, maps entry points, and safely removes unused code with incremental validation and backup creation to streamline your codebase.

Can I safely remove dead code without breaking my application?▼

Yes. This Skill performs safety checks and incremental removal with validation before deleting code. It respects framework patterns and entry points to avoid breaking dependencies, and creates backups so you can revert if needed.

When should I remove dead code from my codebase?▼

Dead code removal is applicable after refactoring, during cleanup of legacy or deprecated features, and before production deployment. It reduces technical debt and improves maintainability by eliminating unused imports, functions, and classes.

Does dead code removal work with mixed-language codebases?▼

Yes. This Skill detects languages automatically and applies language-specific analysis across Python, JavaScript/TypeScript, Java, Go, and Rust projects in the same codebase, handling each language's syntax and patterns appropriately.

What's included to get started with dead code removal?▼

The Skill includes helper scripts and references to find and remove unused imports and functions. It provides language detection, entry-point mapping, and dependency analysis out of the box for immediate use.

What happens if dead code removal misses dependencies or framework patterns?▼

This Skill respects framework patterns and entry points to prevent over-removal. Incremental removal with validation lets you verify each step, and backup creation ensures you can restore code if the analysis missed critical dependencies.