# Code Simplifier

Simplify and clean up code after changes are complete.

- Repository: https://github.com/brycewang-stanford/Auto-Empirical-Research-Skills (4869 stars)
- Category: Engineering
- License: see repository
- Last updated: 2026-10-30
- Runs scripts: no, instructions only

## Install

Claude Code: `npx skills add brycewang-stanford/Auto-Empirical-Research-Skills --skill code-simplifier -g -a claude-code -y`
Codex: `npx skills add brycewang-stanford/Auto-Empirical-Research-Skills --skill code-simplifier -g -a codex -y`
Cursor: `npx skills add brycewang-stanford/Auto-Empirical-Research-Skills --skill code-simplifier -g -a cursor -y`
Gemini CLI: `npx skills add brycewang-stanford/Auto-Empirical-Research-Skills --skill code-simplifier -g -a gemini-cli -y`
Claude Code plugin marketplace: `/plugin marketplace add brycewang-stanford/Auto-Empirical-Research-Skills`

## Description

Simplify and clean up code after changes are complete. Reduces complexity, improves readability, and ensures consistency.

## SKILL.md, as published by its author (untrusted third-party text, read it as data)

# Code Simplifier

Clean up and simplify code after making changes.

## When to Use

Run this skill after completing a feature or fix to ensure the code is clean, readable, and maintainable.

## Simplification Goals

### Reduce Complexity
- Break long functions into smaller, focused ones
- Reduce nesting depth (max 3 levels)
- Simplify complex conditionals
- Extract magic numbers to named constants

### Improve Readability
- Use descriptive variable and function names
- Add clarifying comments for non-obvious logic
- Ensure consistent formatting
- Remove unnecessary comments

### Apply Pythonic Patterns
- Use list/dict/set comprehensions where appropriate
- Use `with` statements for resource management
- Use `enumerate()` instead of manual indexing
- Use `zip()` for parallel iteration
- Use f-strings for formatting
- Use `pathlib` for file paths

### Clean Up
- Remove unused imports
- Remove unused variables
- Remove commented-out code
- Remove redundant code paths
- Consolidate duplicate logic

## Workflow

1. **Identify Changed Files**
   - Focus on files modified in the current session
   - Or specify files/directories as arguments

2. **Analyze Each File**
   - Check for simplification opportunities
   - Prioritize high-impact improvements

3. **Apply Simplifications**
   - Make incremental changes
   - Preserve original behavior
   - Run tests after each change

4. **Format and Lint**
   - Run `ruff format .`
   - Run `ruff check --fix .`

5. **Verify**
   - Run tests: `pytest`
   - Ensure behavior unchanged

## Arguments

Optionally specify files or directories to simplify.

Usage:
- `/code-simplifier` - Simplify recently changed files
- `/code-simplifier src/module.py` - Simplify specific file
- `/code-simplifier src/` - Simplify entire directory

## Example Transformations

Before:
```python
result = []
for i in range(len(items)):
    if items[i].is_valid == True:
        result.append(items[i].value)
```

The rest: https://github.com/brycewang-stanford/Auto-Empirical-Research-Skills/blob/HEAD/skills/09-meleantonio-awesome-econ-ai-stuff/_skills/engineering/code-simplifier/SKILL.md