---
name: diagnostic-first-refactoring-df6cb78ddded
description: A non-destructive, decoupled analysis protocol for refactoring code. Generates a "Bill of Materials" report before any code is touched.
created: 2026-02-04
source: r/vibecoding community pattern
---

# 🩺 Diagnostic-First Refactoring (The "Surgeon's Scan")

> **Philosophy**: Diagnose first. Cut second.
> **Source**: r/vibecoding ("Tip #1 - don't forget to have AI review its own code")

## 1. The Prompt (Universal Polyglot)

When invoking this skill on a file (or set of files), use the following System Prompt logic.

**Role**: Senior Software Architect & Performance Engineer.

**Objective**: Analyze the provided code files and generate a "Refactoring & Optimization Report." **DO NOT** rewrite the full files or generate refactored code blocks yet. Instead, provide a diagnostic report.

**Specific Focus Areas**:

1. **Dead & Unreachable Code**: Identify variables, functions, or imports that are declared but never used.
2. **Cognitive Complexity**: Highlight areas with excessive nesting (if/else hell), complex state management, or hard-to-read logic.
3. **Redundancy**: Point out repeated logic that should be abstracted into utility functions (violation of DRY principles).
4. **Performance Heavy-Lifters**: Analyze loops, recursive functions, DOM manipulations (if JS), and resource-heavy operations.
    * *Check*: Is this technically unneeded? Can it be replaced by a lighter alternative (e.g., CSS instead of JS animation)?
5. **Modernization**: Identify where language-specific modern syntax (e.g., Python 3.12+ features, ES6+ features) could reduce LOC.

**Constraints for AI**:

* **NO DIRECT EDITING**: Do not output the full modified code files.
* **Strictly Diagnostic**: Focus on *what* can be improved and *why*.
* **Quantify Impact**: Estimate LOC reduction (Low/Medium/High) and Complexity Impact.

## 2. Output Format (The "Bill of Materials")

The output MUST be written to a report file using the following structure:

```markdown
# Refactoring & Optimization Report: [Filename]

## 📊 Summary
* **Est. LOC Reduction**: ~[X] lines
* **Complexity Reduction**: [Low/Medium/High]
* **Critical Issues**: [Count]

## 1. Issue Matrix

| Issue Category | Description of Inefficiency | Proposed Solution | Est. LOC Reduction | Complexity Impact |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| **Dead Code** | Unused import `foo` on line 12 | Remove import | ~1 line | None |
| **Bloat** | Animation function X uses complex JS loop | Replace with CSS Keyframes | ~15 lines | High |
| **Syntax** | Old style variable declarations | Convert to const/let & arrow funcs | ~5 lines | Low |
| **DRY** | Repeated error handling logic in 3 functions | Create `handle_error` utility | ~20 lines | Medium |

## 2. Critical Recommendations (Bulleted)
* [Recommendation 1]
* [Recommendation 2]

## 3. Risks & Regressions
* [Potential side effect of refactoring]
```

## 3. Execution Workflow

1. **Select Target**: Identify the file(s) to refactor.
2. **Run Diagnosis**: Feed file content + The Prompt to the AI.
3. **Review Report**: User reviews the Matrix.
4. **Authorize**: User approves specific line items.
5. **Execute**: AI switches to "Execution Mode" and applies the approved changes.

---

## Why This Pattern?

| Traditional Refactoring | Diagnostic-First |
|------------------------|------------------|
| AI rewrites entire file | AI produces analysis first |
| Risk of breaking changes | User reviews before any edit |
| Hard to track what changed | Clear "Bill of Materials" |
| All-or-nothing | Granular approval per issue |

---

# skill #refactoring #code-quality #diagnostic


---
Source attribution: AshishOP
Original project: https://github.com/AshishOP/openclaw_codebase/blob/35863c735056d3b210fa3854d0732f4e626801e6/Athena-Public/examples/skills/coding/diagnostic-refactor/SKILL.md
License: MIT
License information: https://opensource.org/license/mit
Original upstream instructions; downloaded from Dave AI.

## Upstream license notice

MIT License

Copyright (c) 2024-2025 Winston Koh

Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
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The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all
copies or substantial portions of the Software.

THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
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OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
SOFTWARE.



# Dave AI resource metadata

Creator / publisher: AshishOP
Original project: https://github.com/AshishOP/openclaw_codebase/blob/35863c735056d3b210fa3854d0732f4e626801e6/Athena-Public/examples/skills/coding/diagnostic-refactor/SKILL.md
Attribution basis: Source repository record

Fields of work: Development & Engineering, Product Management
Roles: Backend Developer, Full-Stack Developer, Product Manager, QA / Test Engineer, Technical Product Manager
Specialties: Backend
Tools: Tool not specified
Country applicability: Country not specified
Classification basis: Source catalog labels
Instruction SHA-256: 08fc9d1103cffbe99c29d027f993535f411fba17c25840618f4f30c5333da06c