What problem does it solve? Code that works but is hard to read or maintain accumulates accidental complexity over time: dead code, deep nesting, clever one-liners, and single-use abstractions. This Skill provides a disciplined process for reducing that complexity without changing behavior. ## Core Features & Use Cases - Simplification Patterns: Concrete before/after examples for removing dead code, flattening nested logic with early returns, replacing clever code with clear code, and inlining over-abstractions. - Decision Frameworks: Chesterton's Fence check before removing anything, the Rule of 500 for oversized functions, and a complexity budget for evaluating new abstractions. - Safe Process: A test-first workflow where each simplification is a separate commit, never mixed with behavior changes, plus a checklist of red flags and common rationalizations to avoid. - Use Case: After finishing a feature with passing tests, run this Skill to clean up a 300-line function with four levels of nesting into flat, readable code with early returns. ## Quick Start Ask the AI to simplify the current module using the code-simplification skill while keeping all tests passing and behavior unchanged.
