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principle-refactoring

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Refactor safely without changing behavior.

Software Engineering#refactoring#code smells#legacy code#fowler catalog#behavior preservation#characterization tests#green tests
Authorlugassawan
Version1.0.0
Installs0

System Documentation

What problem does it solve?

It prevents risky refactors by enforcing behavior-preserving steps, keeping the test suite green between moves, and guiding you from code smells to the correct Fowler refactoring catalog decisions.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Behavior-preserving refactoring discipline: preserves behavior at every step, keeps small independently-reviewable changes, and runs tests after each move to stay green.
  • Smell-to-move mapping: translates common refactoring smells (Long Method, Large Class, Feature Envy, Data Clumps, Primitive Obsession, Shotgun Surgery, Divergent Change, Speculative Generality) into specific Fowler moves and sequencing guidance.
  • Legacy safety via characterization tests: instructs when and how to write characterization tests first for legacy code without coverage, turning unknown behavior into a verified safety net.

Quick Start

Ask the AI: “How do I refactor this legacy function with a Long Method into Extract Function steps while writing characterization tests first and keeping behavior identical between commits?”

Dependency Matrix

Required Modules

None required

Components

Standard package

💻 Claude Code Installation

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Please help me install this Skill:
Name: principle-refactoring
Download link: https://github.com/lugassawan/swe-workbench/archive/main.zip#principle-refactoring

Please download this .zip file, extract it, and install it in the .claude/skills/ directory.
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