How does this differ from standard search and replace?

Standard tools use text patterns or regex which can match text inside strings or comments by mistake. This skill uses Abstract Syntax Trees (AST) to understand the code structure, ensuring it only targets actual code elements.

Is it safe to use for large-scale changes?

Yes, the skill follows a strict safety workflow including discovery, planning, and mandatory user approval before applying any destructive transformations.

Which programming languages are supported?

It supports a wide range of popular languages including JavaScript, TypeScript, Python, Go, Rust, Java, C, C++, C#, Kotlin, Swift, Ruby, and PHP.

Do I need to have ast-grep installed?

Yes, this skill relies on the ast-grep CLI. It will check for the installation and can guide you through installing it via Homebrew or other package managers if missing.

AST-Aware Code Refactoring

Name: AST-Aware Code Refactoring
Author: bcowdery

bybcowdery

Developer Tools

Performs systematic, syntax-aware code transformations and pattern-based refactoring across entire repositories using ast-grep.

About

The AST-Aware Code Refactoring skill empowers Claude to perform complex, structural changes to source code by leveraging abstract syntax trees (AST). Unlike standard text-based search-and-replace, this skill understands language structure, allowing it to accurately rename variables, migrate API patterns, and modernize syntax across large codebases without breaking logic. It provides a comprehensive workflow from discovery and impact analysis to planning and interactive execution, ensuring that bulk transformations are handled safely and consistently across multiple files.

Key Features

Syntax-aware search and replace using ast-grep
Interactive refactoring with dry-run and verification steps
Mass renaming of functions, classes, and variables across scopes
Structural code architecture restructuring and module splitting
Automated API migration and syntax modernization (e.g., var to const)
0 GitHub stars

Use Cases

Standardizing logging or error handling patterns across multiple microservices
Refactoring legacy variable declarations and function signatures with scope awareness
Migrating deprecated library calls to modern equivalents across a large repository

About

Key Features

Syntax-aware search and replace using ast-grep
Interactive refactoring with dry-run and verification steps
Mass renaming of functions, classes, and variables across scopes
Structural code architecture restructuring and module splitting
Automated API migration and syntax modernization (e.g., var to const)
0 GitHub stars

Use Cases

Standardizing logging or error handling patterns across multiple microservices
Refactoring legacy variable declarations and function signatures with scope awareness
Migrating deprecated library calls to modern equivalents across a large repository