laurigates/code-dead-code

/code:dead-code

Detect and report dead code across languages.

When to Use This Skill

| Use this skill when... | Use something else when... | |---|---| | Cleaning up after a major refactor | Setting up dead code tooling → /configure:dead-code | | Auditing codebase for unused exports | Looking for duplicated code → /code:dry-consolidation | | Reducing bundle size by removing dead code | Looking for anti-patterns → /code:antipatterns | | Pre-merge cleanup of feature branches | Need full code review → /code:review |

Context

• Package files: !find . -maxdepth 1 \( -name "package.json" -o -name "pyproject.toml" -o -name "Cargo.toml" \) -type f
• Knip config: !find . -maxdepth 1 \( -name "knip.json" -o -name "knip.jsonc" -o -name ".knip.json" \) -type f

Parameters

• $1: Path to scan (defaults to current directory)
• --tool: Force specific tool (knip, vulture, machete)
• --fix: Automatically remove detected dead code where safe

Execution

Execute this dead code detection workflow:

Step 1: Detect project type and available tools

Check which languages are present and which dead code tools are available:

• JavaScript/TypeScript: Check for knip or ts-prune
• Python: Check for vulture
• Rust: Check for cargo-machete

If no tool is available, report which tool to install and suggest /configure:dead-code to set up the project.

Step 2: Run dead code detection

JavaScript/TypeScript (Knip):

npx knip --reporter compact

If Knip is not configured:

npx knip --reporter compact --include files,exports,dependencies

Python (Vulture):

vulture ${1:-.} --min-confidence 80

Rust (cargo-machete):

cargo machete

Step 3: Categorize findings

Group results by severity:

| Category | Severity | Action | |---|---|---| | Unused dependencies | High | Remove from package manifest | | Unused exports | Medium | Remove export, check downstream | | Unused files | Medium | Delete after confirming no dynamic imports | | Unused variables/functions | Low | Remove if truly dead |

Step 4: Apply fixes (if --fix)

If --fix flag is set:

1. Remove unused dependencies: update package.json/pyproject.toml/Cargo.toml
2. Remove unused exports (only if no external consumers)
3. Delete orphaned files (confirm no dynamic imports/requires reference them)
4. Run project tests to verify nothing broke

If --fix is not set, present a summary report with actionable items.

Step 5: Report results

Print summary:

Dead Code Report
================
Unused files: N
Unused exports: N
Unused dependencies: N
Total dead code: N items

Top items to remove:
- [file:export] reason

Post-Actions

• If many unused dependencies found → suggest npm prune or equivalent
• If no dead code tool configured → suggest /configure:dead-code
• If fixes applied → suggest running tests with /test:run

Agentic Optimizations

| Context | Command | |---|---| | Quick JS/TS scan | npx knip --reporter compact --include files,exports | | Python scan | vulture . --min-confidence 80 | | Rust scan | cargo machete | | CI mode | npx knip --reporter json | | Exports only | npx knip --include exports --reporter compact |