Code Simplifier

What it does

When your agent uses it

• Asks to simplify code
• Improve code quality
• Requests a simplification review of recent changes

Example prompts

• “simplify code”
• “refine code”
• “clean up code”
• “/code-simplifier”

Workflow steps

3 steps, taken from the first numbered list in SKILL.md.

1. 1Code Reuse - Eliminate duplication, consolidate shared logic, leverage existing utilities.
2. 2Code Quality - Improve naming, reduce complexity, enforce project standards from AGENTS.md.
3. 3Efficiency - Fix algorithmic issues, remove unnecessary work, optimize resource usage.

What it can do on your machine

Read from SKILL.md and the folder at commit d008b81. It shows what the files ask for, not the result of running them.

• Tool permissions

  Pre-approves nothing: there is no allowed-tools line, so your agent's usual permission prompts apply.

  From allowed-tools in the SKILL.md frontmatter.

• Runs code

  Shell commands in SKILL.md call:

  • git

  From the folder's file list and the shell code blocks in SKILL.md.

• Network

  No URLs in SKILL.md. Its commands use git, which can reach the network depending on how they are called.

  From URLs in SKILL.md, links to its own repository left out.

• Credentials

  Names no API keys, tokens, secrets or passwords.

  From names ending in _API_KEY, _TOKEN, _SECRET, _KEY or _PASSWORD in SKILL.md.

Context cost

Code Simplifier loads about 1.3k tokens when it runs, and up to ~4.2k if it reads all its reference files. Until then it costs about 113 tokens; SKILL.md has 495 words of instructions outside code blocks.

Always · name and description, kept in context so the agent knows when to use it

~113

When it runs · the whole SKILL.md, loaded when a task matches

~1.3k

With references · SKILL.md plus every file in references/, read only if the agent opens them

~4.2k

Estimates: characters ÷ 4, the usual rule of thumb; real counts depend on the model's tokenizer. Scripts and assets cost tokens only if the agent reads them.

Safety

Automated static check — not a guarantee. Review scripts before installing. It scans the text of SKILL.md for risky patterns (piping downloads into a shell, reading credential files, hidden Unicode, destructive commands); files beside SKILL.md are not scanned.

SKILL.md

The full file from OpenHands/extensions at commit d008b81, republished under its MIT licence (© OpenHands). 495 words, ~1,259 tokens.

name

code-simplifier

description

Simplifies and refines code for clarity, consistency, and maintainability while preserving all functionality. Analyzes recently modified code across three dimensions - code reuse, code quality, and efficiency - and provides actionable improvement suggestions. This skill should be used when the user asks to "simplify code", "refine code", "clean up code", "improve code quality", or requests a simplification review of recent changes.

triggers

/simplify

## Code Simplification Review

### Scope
[List of files reviewed and how scope was determined]

### Code Reuse
[Findings from the reuse review, using **[REUSE]** tags]

### Code Quality
[Findings from the quality review, using **[QUALITY]** tags]

### Efficiency
[Findings from the efficiency review, using **[EFFICIENCY]** tags]

### Summary
[Overall assessment: is the code in good shape, or does it need significant refinement?]
[Prioritized list of the most impactful changes to make first]

© OpenHands, MIT. Rendered from Markdown: HTML in the file is shown as text, images as links, and headings moved down two levels. Raw file

Files

SKILL.md and 8 other files (references) in skills/code-simplifier of OpenHands/extensions.

• SKILL.md
• .claude-plugin
• .codex-plugin
• .plugin/plugin.json
• README.md
• commands/simplify.md
• references/code-quality-review.md
• references/code-reuse-review.md
• references/efficiency-review.md

Open the folder on GitHubat commit d008b81