improve-codebase

Identify structural weaknesses and generate architectural improvement proposals in Markdown.

8|1|Updated Apr 10, 2026
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/max4c/skills --skill improve-codebase-max4c
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: improve-codebase
Source: https://github.com/max4c/skills/tree/main/skills/improve-codebase
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/max4c/skills --skill improve-codebase-max4c

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve?

Architectural review that produces proposals, not commits. Read the codebase, identify structural improvement opportunities — shallow modules that should be deepened, leaky abstractions, misplaced complexity — and presents them with tradeoffs for the user to decide. The output is a Markdown decision document.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Produce 2-5 architectural improvements with rationale, tradeoffs, and rough effort estimates.
  • Apply a four-persona pass (Contrarian, Simplifier, Architect, Hacker) to stress-test proposals before presenting.
  • Generate a Markdown proposal document and save to docs/architecture-reviews/<date>-<focus>.md.
  • Not a refactoring bot; it produces proposals, not commits.

Quick Start

Run the improve-codebase skill against your codebase to generate a 2-5 proposal architecture document.

Frequently Asked Questions about improve-codebase

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

FAQPage Schema
How do I get architectural improvement proposals for a codebase with shallow modules?

To get architectural improvement proposals for a codebase with shallow modules, run an automated review that identifies structural weaknesses and generates a Markdown document with 2-5 actionable improvements, rationale, and tradeoffs.

What is the best way to review leaky abstractions without automatically refactoring code?

The best way to review leaky abstractions without automatic refactoring is to generate decision documents that analyze misplaced complexity and present architectural proposals with tradeoffs, leaving the final implementation decision to the user.

How does a four-persona analysis stress-test software design proposals?

A four-persona analysis stress-tests software design proposals by applying Contrarian, Simplifier, Architect, and Hacker perspectives to evaluate structural weaknesses, ensuring architectural improvements are robust before presenting them in a Markdown document.

Can I use architectural review tools to estimate the effort needed for modular design changes?

Yes, you can use architectural review tools to estimate the effort needed for modular design changes by generating proposals that include rough effort estimates alongside rationale and tradeoffs for each identified structural improvement.

When do I need an architectural review instead of a standard code review?

You need an architectural review instead of a standard code review when your codebase exhibits structural issues like leaky abstractions or misplaced complexity, and you require a high-level proposal document rather than direct code commits.

Why does my codebase analysis output a Markdown decision document instead of code changes?

Your codebase analysis outputs a Markdown decision document instead of code changes because the process is designed to produce architectural proposals with tradeoffs, saving the review to docs/architecture-reviews/ for user evaluation rather than executing refactors.