Does it detect unreachable code as well?

Yes, specifically using the deadcode tool, it can identify blocks of code that can never be executed, such as logic appearing after a return or raise statement.

Is CI/CD integration possible?

Yes, the skill includes patterns for integrating these checks into GitHub Actions and pre-commit hooks to prevent dead code from being merged.

Which Python tools are supported by this skill?

This skill integrates both Vulture (mature, confidence-based) and deadcode (AST-based) to provide multiple perspectives on unused code detection.

How do I handle false positives in my Python code?

You can use whitelist files for Vulture or configure ignore_names and ignore_decorators in your pyproject.toml for both tools to exclude dynamic or framework-specific code.

Can this be used for gradual cleanup of large projects?

Yes, it recommends a strategy of starting with high confidence thresholds (e.g., 90%+) and gradually lowering them as the codebase becomes cleaner.

Python Dead Code Detection

Name: Python Dead Code Detection
Author: laurigates

bylaurigates

•

Security & Testing

Identifies and prunes unused Python functions, classes, and variables to maintain clean and efficient codebases.

About

This skill provides a comprehensive toolkit for detecting and removing dead code in Python projects using industry-standard tools like Vulture and deadcode. It enables developers to perform high-confidence static analysis and AST-based detection to find unused logic, imports, and variables that contribute to technical debt. By integrating these tools into the development workflow, the skill helps maintain codebase hygiene, reduce bundle sizes, and simplify refactoring efforts across projects of any scale.

Key Features

Identification of unused imports, functions, classes, and attributes
3 GitHub stars
High-accuracy AST-based scanning using the deadcode tool
Support for custom whitelists and pyproject.toml configurations
Detection of unreachable code following return or raise statements
Confidence-based detection for nuanced code analysis via Vulture

Use Cases

Enforcing strict code hygiene in CI/CD pipelines via GitHub Actions
Audit-ready reporting of technical debt and unreachable code branches
Cleaning up legacy Python repositories by identifying forgotten logic

About

Key Features

Identification of unused imports, functions, classes, and attributes
3 GitHub stars
High-accuracy AST-based scanning using the deadcode tool
Support for custom whitelists and pyproject.toml configurations
Detection of unreachable code following return or raise statements
Confidence-based detection for nuanced code analysis via Vulture

Use Cases

Enforcing strict code hygiene in CI/CD pipelines via GitHub Actions
Audit-ready reporting of technical debt and unreachable code branches
Cleaning up legacy Python repositories by identifying forgotten logic