design-cleanup — Claude Code skill: what it does, how to install
This skill removes remnants of a discarded design from the affected code, tests, and docs. Use it after an approach changes mid-branch.
npx skills add gjkim42/kanon-repo --skill design-cleanup -a claude-codeWhat design-cleanup does
design-cleanup searches the current branch for code that still reflects an abandoned decision. It covers dead branches, old parameters, shims, misleading names, transitional comments, stale tests, documentation, and TODOs. The pass is limited to the code touched by that decision, rather than turning into general refactoring or bug hunting.
It first defines the current design and the approach being dropped, then narrows the work to changed files and references to retired concepts. The workflow includes reviewing the branch diff, running the project build and tests, and checking for old names and history-focused terms such as legacy or V2. If the decision is unclear, broad edits wait for confirmation of that summary.
What it helps with
- remove branches and parameters used by the old approach
- rename identifiers, files, and modules shaped by the former design
- rewrite tests for the intended API
- replace comments and docs that describe the transition
- find dangling references to retired concepts
Example prompts for the agent
- Run design cleanup after we changed the data-processing approach on this branch.
- Remove the old API’s traces from the affected code, tests, and documentation.
- Review the branch diff, rewrite leftovers from the former design, then run the build and tests.
How to install design-cleanup
1Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add gjkim42/kanon-repo --skill design-cleanup -a claude-code2Manually: put the files in place
~/.claude/skills/design-cleanup/SKILL.mdCopy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/design-cleanup/
1Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add gjkim42/kanon-repo --skill design-cleanup -a codex2Manually: put the files in place
.agents/skills/design-cleanup/SKILL.mdFor all projects use ~/.agents/skills/
1Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add gjkim42/kanon-repo --skill design-cleanup -a cursor2Manually: put the files in place
.cursor/skills/design-cleanup/SKILL.mdCursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/
1GitHub CLI
gh skill install gjkim42/kanon-repo design-cleanup2Manually: put the files in place
.github/skills/design-cleanup/SKILL.md1Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add gjkim42/kanon-repo --skill design-cleanup -a gemini-cli2Platform CLI
gemini skills install https://github.com/gjkim42/kanon-repo --path skills/design-cleanupManually: put the files in place
.devin/skills/design-cleanup/SKILL.mdThe legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works
Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add gjkim42/kanon-repo --skill design-cleanup -a opencodeClaude.ai
Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills
Step by step, with commands for each platform: How to install skills in Claude Code: five ways
Questions about design-cleanup
How do I install design-cleanup in Claude Code?
Run npx skills add gjkim42/kanon-repo --skill design-cleanup -a claude-code, then check ~/.claude/skills/design-cleanup/SKILL.md.
What does design-cleanup do?
It finds remnants of a discarded design and rewrites the affected code, tests, comments, and docs so they describe the current approach.
What is inside the cleanup scope?
The skill covers code changed by the decision and files that reference renamed or removed concepts. Unrelated refactors and formatting are outside its scope.
