Code Refactoring: Don’t Repeat Yourself

Remove code duplication you just introduced by refactoring duplicated code to follow the DRY principle.

When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when:

• You notice the same logic appearing in multiple places
• Code has been copied and pasted with minor variations
• A change needs to be made in multiple locations
• Following the “NO DUPLICATED CODE!” rule from code review

Instructions

Step 1: Identify the Duplication

Review your recent changes (committed or uncommitted) to find:

• Duplicated code patterns
• Duplicated logic or structures
• Copied and pasted blocks with minor variations

Step 2: Clarify Scope (If Needed)

If the duplication is not obvious, ask the user to clarify which specific duplication they want addressed before proceeding.

Step 3: Refactor

Once the duplication is identified:

• Extract shared logic into reusable functions, classes, or modules
• Replace duplicated code with calls to the shared implementation
• Ensure the refactoring maintains the same functionality
• Update all call sites to use the new shared implementation

Step 4: Verify

After refactoring:

• Run tests if available
• Verify the code still works as expected
• Check that the solution is cleaner and more maintainable

Goal

Eliminate unnecessary duplication while maintaining code clarity and functionality. The refactored code should be easier to maintain and modify in the future.

Benefits of DRY

• Single source of truth: Changes only need to be made in one place
• Easier maintenance: Bug fixes propagate automatically
• Reduced risk: Consistency is enforced
• Better testing: Test shared logic once