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description
| description |
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| Remove unused code from this project with ultrawork mode, LSP-verified safety, atomic commits |
Your core weapon: LSP FindReferences. If a symbol has ZERO external references, it's dead. Remove it.
CRITICAL RULES
- LSP is law. Never guess. Always verify with
LspFindReferencesbefore removing ANYTHING. - One removal = one commit. Every dead code removal gets its own atomic commit.
- Test after every removal. Run
bun testafter each. If it fails, REVERT and skip. - Leaf-first order. Remove deepest unused symbols first, then work up the dependency chain. Removing a leaf may expose new dead code upstream.
- Never remove entry points.
src/index.ts,src/cli/index.ts, test files, config files, and files inpackages/are off-limits unless explicitly targeted.
STEP 0: REGISTER TODO LIST (MANDATORY FIRST ACTION)
TodoWrite([
{"id": "scan", "content": "PHASE 1: Scan codebase for dead code candidates using LSP + explore agents", "status": "pending", "priority": "high"},
{"id": "verify", "content": "PHASE 2: Verify each candidate with LspFindReferences - zero false positives", "status": "pending", "priority": "high"},
{"id": "plan", "content": "PHASE 3: Plan removal order (leaf-first dependency order)", "status": "pending", "priority": "high"},
{"id": "remove", "content": "PHASE 4: Remove dead code one-by-one (remove -> test -> commit loop)", "status": "pending", "priority": "high"},
{"id": "final", "content": "PHASE 5: Final verification - full test suite + build + typecheck", "status": "pending", "priority": "high"}
])
PHASE 1: SCAN FOR DEAD CODE CANDIDATES
Mark scan as in_progress.
1.1: Launch Parallel Explore Agents (ALL BACKGROUND)
Fire ALL simultaneously:
// Agent 1: Find all exported symbols
delegate_task(subagent_type="explore", run_in_background=true,
prompt="Find ALL exported functions, classes, types, interfaces, and constants across src/.
List each with: file path, line number, symbol name, export type (named/default).
EXCLUDE: src/index.ts root exports, test files.
Return as structured list.")
// Agent 2: Find potentially unused files
delegate_task(subagent_type="explore", run_in_background=true,
prompt="Find files in src/ that are NOT imported by any other file.
Check import/require statements across the entire codebase.
EXCLUDE: index.ts files, test files, entry points, config files, .md files.
Return list of potentially orphaned files.")
// Agent 3: Find unused imports within files
delegate_task(subagent_type="explore", run_in_background=true,
prompt="Find unused imports across src/**/*.ts files.
Look for import statements where the imported symbol is never referenced in the file body.
Return: file path, line number, imported symbol name.")
// Agent 4: Find functions/variables only used in their own declaration
delegate_task(subagent_type="explore", run_in_background=true,
prompt="Find private/non-exported functions, variables, and types in src/**/*.ts that appear
to have zero usage beyond their declaration. Return: file path, line number, symbol name.")
1.2: Direct AST-Grep Scans (WHILE AGENTS RUN)
// Find unused imports pattern
ast_grep_search(pattern="import { $NAME } from '$PATH'", lang="typescript", paths=["src/"])
// Find empty export objects
ast_grep_search(pattern="export {}", lang="typescript", paths=["src/"])
1.3: Collect All Results
Collect background agent results. Compile into a master candidate list:
## DEAD CODE CANDIDATES
| # | File | Line | Symbol | Type | Confidence |
|---|------|------|--------|------|------------|
| 1 | src/foo.ts | 42 | unusedFunc | function | HIGH |
| 2 | src/bar.ts | 10 | OldType | type | MEDIUM |
Mark scan as completed.
PHASE 2: VERIFY WITH LSP (ZERO FALSE POSITIVES)
Mark verify as in_progress.
For EVERY candidate from Phase 1, run this verification:
2.1: The LSP Verification Protocol
For each candidate symbol:
// Step 1: Find the symbol's exact position
LspDocumentSymbols(filePath) // Get line/character of the symbol
// Step 2: Find ALL references across the ENTIRE workspace
LspFindReferences(filePath, line, character, includeDeclaration=false)
// includeDeclaration=false → only counts USAGES, not the definition itself
// Step 3: Evaluate
// 0 references → CONFIRMED DEAD CODE
// 1+ references → NOT dead, remove from candidate list
2.2: False Positive Guards
NEVER mark as dead code if:
- Symbol is in
src/index.ts(package entry point) - Symbol is in any
index.tsthat re-exports (barrel file check: look if it's re-exported) - Symbol is referenced in test files (tests are valid consumers)
- Symbol has
@publicor@apiJSDoc tags - Symbol is in a file listed in
package.jsonexports - Symbol is a hook factory (
createXXXHook) registered insrc/index.ts - Symbol is a tool factory (
createXXXTool) registered in tool loading - Symbol is an agent definition registered in
agentSources - File is a command template, skill definition, or MCP config
2.3: Build Confirmed Dead Code List
After verification, produce:
## CONFIRMED DEAD CODE (LSP-verified, 0 external references)
| # | File | Line | Symbol | Type | Safe to Remove |
|---|------|------|--------|------|----------------|
| 1 | src/foo.ts | 42 | unusedFunc | function | YES |
If ZERO confirmed dead code found: Report "No dead code found" and STOP.
Mark verify as completed.
PHASE 3: PLAN REMOVAL ORDER
Mark plan as in_progress.
3.1: Dependency Analysis
For each confirmed dead symbol:
- Check if removing it would expose other dead code
- Check if other dead symbols depend on this one
- Build removal dependency graph
3.2: Order by Leaf-First
Removal Order:
1. [Leaf symbols - no other dead code depends on them]
2. [Intermediate symbols - depended on only by already-removed dead code]
3. [Dead files - entire files with no live exports]
3.3: Register Granular Todos
Create one todo per removal:
TodoWrite([
{"id": "remove-1", "content": "Remove unusedFunc from src/foo.ts:42", "status": "pending", "priority": "high"},
{"id": "remove-2", "content": "Remove OldType from src/bar.ts:10", "status": "pending", "priority": "high"},
// ... one per confirmed dead symbol
])
Mark plan as completed.
PHASE 4: ITERATIVE REMOVAL LOOP
Mark remove as in_progress.
For EACH dead code item, execute this exact loop:
4.1: Pre-Removal Check
// Re-verify it's still dead (previous removals may have changed things)
LspFindReferences(filePath, line, character, includeDeclaration=false)
// If references > 0 now → SKIP (previous removal exposed a new consumer)
4.2: Remove the Dead Code
Use appropriate tool:
For unused imports:
Edit(filePath, oldString="import { deadSymbol } from '...';\n", newString="")
// Or if it's one of many imports, remove just the symbol from the import list
For unused functions/classes/types:
// Read the full symbol extent first
Read(filePath, offset=startLine, limit=endLine-startLine+1)
// Then remove it
Edit(filePath, oldString="[full symbol text]", newString="")
For dead files:
# Only after confirming ZERO imports point to this file
rm "path/to/dead-file.ts"
After removal, also clean up:
- Remove any imports that were ONLY used by the removed code
- Remove any now-empty import statements
- Fix any trailing whitespace / double blank lines left behind
4.3: Post-Removal Verification
// 1. LSP diagnostics on changed file
LspDiagnostics(filePath, severity="error")
// Must be clean (or only pre-existing errors)
// 2. Run tests
bash("bun test")
// Must pass
// 3. Typecheck
bash("bun run typecheck")
// Must pass
4.4: Handle Failures
If ANY verification fails:
- REVERT the change immediately (
git checkout -- [file]) - Mark this removal todo as
cancelledwith note: "Removal caused [error]. Skipped." - Proceed to next item
4.5: Commit
git add [changed-files]
git commit -m "refactor: remove unused [symbolType] [symbolName] from [filePath]"
Mark this removal todo as completed.
4.6: Re-scan After Removal
After removing a symbol, check if its removal exposed NEW dead code:
- Were there imports that only existed to serve the removed symbol?
- Are there other symbols in the same file now unreferenced?
If new dead code is found, add it to the removal queue.
Repeat 4.1-4.6 for every item. Mark remove as completed when done.
PHASE 5: FINAL VERIFICATION
Mark final as in_progress.
5.1: Full Test Suite
bun test
5.2: Full Typecheck
bun run typecheck
5.3: Full Build
bun run build
5.4: Summary Report
## Dead Code Removal Complete
### Removed
| # | Symbol | File | Type | Commit |
|---|--------|------|------|--------|
| 1 | unusedFunc | src/foo.ts | function | abc1234 |
### Skipped (caused failures)
| # | Symbol | File | Reason |
|---|--------|------|--------|
| 1 | riskyFunc | src/bar.ts | Test failure: [details] |
### Verification
- Tests: PASSED (X/Y passing)
- Typecheck: CLEAN
- Build: SUCCESS
- Total dead code removed: N symbols across M files
- Total commits: K atomic commits
Mark final as completed.
SCOPE CONTROL
If $ARGUMENTS is provided, narrow the scan to the specified scope:
- File path: Only scan that file
- Directory: Only scan that directory
- Symbol name: Only check that specific symbol
- "all" or empty: Full project scan (default)
ABORT CONDITIONS
STOP and report to user if:
- 3 consecutive removals cause test failures
- Build breaks and cannot be fixed by reverting
- More than 50 candidates found (ask user to narrow scope)
LANGUAGE
Use English for commit messages and technical output.
$ARGUMENTS