simplify-pass

Three independent reviews look for duplicate logic, redundant state and branches, unnecessary layers, and behavior a refactor must preserve. The agent applies proposals only when their benefit is clear and checks support the result.

Install the skill with the command above. Invoke it explicitly with /simplify-pass in Claude or $simplify-pass in Codex. Name a file, function, or change range, for example /simplify-pass src/cart/totals.ts.

Use it for focused simplification or cleanup of code changed in the current task. Without a target, it uses that task's changes, then uncommitted changes. If no target can be identified, it asks you before proceeding. Unrelated work stays outside the scope.

The host must support helper agents. All three reviews must finish before editing; after one retry, a missing review ends the run as incomplete.

The agent reads the target, callers, project guidance, and nearest tests. It records the behavior to preserve: APIs, outputs, side effects, errors, ordering, concurrency, and important edge cases. A useful existing check runs first as a baseline.

The reviewers inspect the same target read-only from three angles:

The agent checks proposals against live code and leaves uncertain changes unapplied. Meaningful tests and error handling stay. A new abstraction or dependency needs a reason beyond saving lines. After focused checks, a substantial final diff gets an independent read-only review.

SKILL.md has the exact review and verification requirements.

• What became simpler and the checks supporting unchanged behavior.
• Proposals left unapplied, with reasons.

A failed check or uncertainty about preserved behavior leaves the result incomplete.