name	dead-code-removal
description	Detects and safely removes unused code (imports, functions, classes) across multiple languages. Use after refactoring, when removing features, or before production deployment. Includes safety checks and validation.
author	Joseph OBrien
status	unpublished
updated	2025-12-23
version	1.0.1
tag	skill
type	skill

Dead Code Removal

This skill safely identifies and removes unused code across multiple programming languages. It includes comprehensive safety checks to prevent removing code that's actually needed.

When to Use This Skill

After refactoring code and removing features
Before production deployment to reduce bundle size
When cleaning up legacy code
When removing deprecated functionality
When optimizing codebase size
When maintaining code quality standards

What This Skill Does

Language Detection: Identifies project languages and structure
Entry Point Mapping: Maps entry points and critical paths
Dependency Analysis: Builds dependency graphs and usage patterns
Safe Detection: Identifies unused elements with safety checks
Incremental Removal: Removes code incrementally with validation
Backup Creation: Creates backups before making changes

Helper Scripts

This skill includes Python helper scripts in scripts/:

find_unused_imports.py: Uses AST parsing to accurately detect unused imports in Python files. Outputs JSON with unused imports and line numbers.
```
python scripts/find_unused_imports.py src/utils.py src/services.py
```

How to Use

Remove Unused Code

Find and remove unused imports and functions in this project

Clean up dead code in src/ directory, but be conservative

Specific Analysis

Check for unused functions in src/utils/ and remove them safely

Analysis Process

1. Language Detection

Identify Project Type:

Python: Look for pyproject.toml, setup.py, requirements.txt
JavaScript/TypeScript: Check package.json, tsconfig.json
Java: Look for pom.xml, build.gradle
Go: Check go.mod
Rust: Check Cargo.toml

Detect Entry Points:

Python: main.py, __main__.py, app.py, run.py
JavaScript: index.js, main.js, server.js, app.js
Java: Main.java, *Application.java, *Controller.java
Config files: *.config.*, settings.*, setup.*
Test files: test_*.py, *.test.js, *.spec.js

2. Build Dependency Graph

Cross-File Dependencies:

Track imports and requires
Map function/method calls
Identify class inheritance
Track dynamic usage patterns

Framework Patterns:

Preserve framework-specific patterns (Django models, React components, etc.)
Check for decorators and annotations
Verify entry point registrations

3. Detect Unused Elements

Using Helper Script:

The skill includes a Python helper script for finding unused imports:

# Find unused imports in Python files
python scripts/find_unused_imports.py src/utils.py src/services.py

Unused Imports:

# Python: AST-based analysis
import ast
# Track: Import statements vs actual usage
# Skip: Dynamic imports (importlib, __import__)

// JavaScript: Module analysis
// Track: import/require vs references
// Skip: Dynamic imports, lazy loading

Unused Functions/Classes:

Define: All declared functions/classes
Reference: Direct calls, inheritance, callbacks
Preserve: Entry points, framework hooks, event handlers

4. Safety Checks

Never Remove If:

Python: getattr(), eval(), globals() usage detected
JavaScript: window[], this[], dynamic import() usage
Java: Reflection, annotations (@Component, @Service)
Framework patterns: Models, controllers, routes, components
Entry points: Main functions, app initialization
Test files: All test-related code

Framework Preservation:

Python:

Django: Models, migrations, admin registrations
Flask: Routes, blueprints, app factories
FastAPI: Endpoints, dependencies

JavaScript:

React: Components, hooks, context providers
Vue: Components, directives, mixins
Angular: Decorators, services, modules

Java:

Spring: Beans, controllers, repositories
JPA: Entities, repositories

5. Safe Removal Process

Backup Creation:

backup_dir="./unused_code_backup_$(date +%Y%m%d_%H%M%S)"
cp -r . "$backup_dir" 2>/dev/null || mkdir -p "$backup_dir" && rsync -a . "$backup_dir"

Incremental Removal:

Create temp file with change
Validate syntax
Run tests if available
Apply or rollback

Validation:

# Python
python -m py_compile file.py
python -m pytest

# JavaScript
npx eslint file.js
npm test

# Java
javac -Xlint file.java
mvn test

Examples

Example 1: Remove Unused Imports

Input: Clean up unused imports in src/utils/helpers.py

Output:

## Dead Code Removal: src/utils/helpers.py

### Analysis
- **File**: `src/utils/helpers.py`
- **Total imports**: 8
- **Unused imports**: 3

### Unused Imports Found
1. `import os` - Line 2 (not used anywhere)
2. `import json` - Line 3 (not used anywhere)
3. `from datetime import timedelta` - Line 5 (not used anywhere)

### Safe to Remove
✅ All 3 imports are safe to remove (no dynamic usage detected)

### Changes
```python
# Before
import os
import json
from datetime import datetime, timedelta
import requests

# After
from datetime import datetime
import requests

Validation

✅ Syntax check passed
✅ Tests pass
✅ No dynamic imports detected


### Example 2: Remove Unused Functions

**Input**: Find unused functions in `src/services/`

**Output**:
```markdown
## Dead Code Removal: src/services/

### Analysis
- **Files analyzed**: 12
- **Functions found**: 45
- **Unused functions**: 2

### Unused Functions

**1. `formatOldDate()` in `src/services/utils.js`**
- **Location**: Line 34-42
- **Status**: ✅ Safe to remove
- **Reason**: No references found, not exported, not used in tests

**2. `legacyAuth()` in `src/services/auth.js`**
- **Location**: Line 78-95
- **Status**: ⚠️ Preserved (framework pattern)
- **Reason**: Referenced in route configuration (line 12)

### Summary
- **Removed**: 1 function (`formatOldDate`)
- **Preserved**: 1 function (framework usage)
- **Lines removed**: 9
- **Size reduction**: ~300 bytes

Best Practices

Safety Guidelines

Do:

Run tests after each removal
Preserve framework patterns
Check string references in templates
Validate syntax continuously
Create comprehensive backups
Remove incrementally

Don't:

Remove without understanding purpose
Batch remove without testing
Ignore dynamic usage patterns
Skip configuration files
Remove from migrations
Remove exported/public APIs

Detection Patterns

Static Analysis:

Use AST parsing for accurate detection
Track cross-file references
Check for dynamic usage patterns
Verify framework-specific patterns