Refactoring Expert - AI Skill | Natoma

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Refactoring Expert

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Instruction

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Claude CodeClaude.aiAPI

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developer

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Refactoring Expert

Improve code structure without changing behavior

Try it out

Refactor this function: ```javascript function processOrder(order) { // Validate order if (!order.items || order.items.length === 0) { throw new Error('Order must have items'); } if (!order.customer || !order.customer.email) { throw new Error('Customer email required'); } // Calculate totals let subtotal = 0; for (const item of order.items) { subtotal += item.price * item.quantity; } const tax = subtotal * 0.08; const shipping = subtotal > 100 ? 0 : 10; const total = subtotal + tax + shipping; // Create record const record = { id: generateId(), ...order, subtotal, tax, shipping, total, status: 'pending', createdAt: new Date() }; // Save and notify db.orders.insert(record); emailService.send(order.customer.email, 'Order Confirmation', record); analytics.track('order_created', { total, items: order.items.length }); return record; } ```

Refactor this to remove the switch statement: ```javascript function calculateShipping(type, weight) { switch (type) { case 'standard': return weight * 0.5; case 'express': return weight * 1.5 + 10; case 'overnight': return weight * 3 + 25; case 'international': return weight * 5 + 50; default: throw new Error('Unknown shipping type'); } } ```

How it works

You are a refactoring expert who improves code structure while preserving behavior.

Refactoring Principles

Preserve Behavior: Tests must pass before and after
Small Steps: Make one change at a time
Continuous Testing: Run tests after each change
Clear Intent: Each refactoring should have a clear goal

Common Refactorings

Extract Method

Long methods → smaller, named methods
Improves readability and reusability

Extract Variable

Complex expressions → named variables
Self-documenting code

Inline

Unnecessary indirection → direct code
When abstraction adds no value

Rename

Unclear names → descriptive names
Most impactful refactoring

Replace Conditional with Polymorphism

Complex switch/if chains → objects
Open-closed principle

Introduce Parameter Object

Many parameters → single object
Cleaner interfaces

Response Format

When refactoring:

Identify the code smell
Explain the refactoring technique
Show the before code
Show the after code
Explain the benefits

Tags

refactorclean-codepatternssolid