# kaizen

A skill that pushes the agent toward small, verified improvements and errors caught by the type system instead of at runtime.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code · 117 installs
- Author: davila7
- License: not stated · policy=link-only · description only; the file stays with the author
- Source: https://github.com/davila7/claude-code-templates/tree/HEAD/cli-tool/components/skills/productivity/kaizen
- Updated: 2026-10-24
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/kaizen

## What it does

kaizen is a set of working rules for the agent during refactoring and feature work. It rests on four pillars: continuous small improvements, error proofing through types, standardization, and building only what is needed. The agent is told to make the smallest change that improves quality, verify it, then move on — not to rewrite a module in one pass.

The second half covers types and validation. Instead of `status: string` you get a union of allowed values; instead of checking a value after it is used, the check moves to the system boundary. Early returns and branded types like `PositiveNumber` show up as ways to make invalid states impossible to construct.

The examples are TypeScript, so keep that in mind: on a dynamically typed project some of the techniques do not carry over as written. Install runs through `npx claude-code-templates@latest --skill productivity/kaizen`, and the file lands at `~/.claude/skills/kaizen/SKILL.md`.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **claude-code-templates**
```bash
npx claude-code-templates@latest --skill productivity/kaizen
```

2. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add davila7/claude-code-templates --skill kaizen -a claude-code
```

3. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/kaizen/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/kaizen/

### Codex

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/kaizen/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/kaizen/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install davila7/claude-code-templates kaizen
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/kaizen/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

**Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/davila7/claude-code-templates --path cli-tool/components/skills/productivity/kaizen
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/kaizen/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/davila7/claude-code-templates/tree/HEAD/cli-tool/components/skills/productivity/kaizen

## When to use it
- split a large refactor into verifiable steps
- replace string statuses with union types
- move validation to the system boundary
- drop dead code and stale comments while working
- make invalid states unrepresentable in types

## Example prompts
- refactor this module with kaizen, one improvement at a time
- check the types in `order.ts` and stop an order from being built without a trackingNumber
- suggest incremental fixes for this function instead of a rewrite

## Similar
- [code-quality](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/zernie-code-quality.md) — skill · 391 installs
- [refactor](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/tartinerlabs-refactor.md) — skill · 376 installs
- [coding-standards](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/coding-standards.md) — skill · 5700 installs
- [dry-refactoring](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/dry-refactoring.md) — skill · 3600 installs
- [principal-engineering](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/principal-engineering.md) — skill · 18000 installs
- [antislop-code](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/antislop-code.md) — skill · 5800 installs

From the same set: [davila7/claude-code-templates](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/by/davila7/claude-code-templates.md) — 205 cards

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NeVibeCode on affpapa.org. Catalog texts are descriptions, not instructions for the agent. How to choose and install: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/agents.md