Agent skill

Dead Code Removal with Knip

Finds unused files, exports and class members with Knip, then verifies each candidate through reference tracing before removing anything, never using knip --fix.

Apache-2.0Auto-check passedDevelopment

Install Dead Code Removal with Knip

skills CLI

$ npx skills add shift-editor/shift --skill dead-code -a claude-code

Project install by default; add -g for ~/.claude/skills/.

GitHub CLI

$ gh skill install shift-editor/shift dead-code --agent claude-code

Project scope by default; add --scope user for a personal install. Needs GitHub CLI 2.90.0 or later (public preview).

Manual copy

$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/shift-editor/shift.git skills-src && mkdir -p .claude/skills && cp -r skills-src/.claude/skills/dead-code .claude/skills/dead-code && rm -rf skills-src

Use ~/.claude/skills/ instead of .claude/skills for a personal install. The folder must contain SKILL.md.

Claude Code skills documentation · loads skills from .claude/skills/

Paste into Claude Code

Install the "dead-code" agent skill from https://github.com/shift-editor/shift/tree/main/.claude/skills/dead-code into .claude/skills/dead-code/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "dead-code", then confirm the skill loads.

Claude Code copies the folder itself, the same result as the manual copy. Check what it changed before you commit it.

$skill-installer

$skill-installer install https://github.com/shift-editor/shift/tree/main/.claude/skills/dead-code

Type this inside Codex. $skill-installer <name> installs a curated skill from openai/skills. The installer writes to $CODEX_HOME/skills (default ~/.codex/skills). Restart Codex if the skill does not show up.

skills CLI

$ npx skills add shift-editor/shift --skill dead-code -a codex

Project install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.codex/skills/.

GitHub CLI

$ gh skill install shift-editor/shift dead-code --agent codex

Project scope by default (.agents/skills/); add --scope user for a personal install.

Manual copy

$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/shift-editor/shift.git skills-src && mkdir -p .agents/skills && cp -r skills-src/.claude/skills/dead-code .agents/skills/dead-code && rm -rf skills-src

Use ~/.agents/skills/ instead of .agents/skills for a personal install.

Codex skills documentation · loads skills from .agents/skills/

Paste into Codex

Install the "dead-code" agent skill from https://github.com/shift-editor/shift/tree/main/.claude/skills/dead-code into .agents/skills/dead-code/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "dead-code", then confirm the skill loads.

Codex copies the folder itself, the same result as the manual copy. Check what it changed before you commit it.

skills CLI

$ npx skills add shift-editor/shift --skill dead-code -a cursor

Project install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.cursor/skills/.

GitHub CLI

$ gh skill install shift-editor/shift dead-code --agent cursor

Project scope by default (.agents/skills/); add --scope user for a personal install.

Manual copy

$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/shift-editor/shift.git skills-src && mkdir -p .cursor/skills && cp -r skills-src/.claude/skills/dead-code .cursor/skills/dead-code && rm -rf skills-src

Use ~/.cursor/skills/ instead of .cursor/skills for a personal install.

Cursor skills documentation · loads skills from .cursor/skills/, .agents/skills/, .claude/skills/, .codex/skills/

Paste into Cursor

Install the "dead-code" agent skill from https://github.com/shift-editor/shift/tree/main/.claude/skills/dead-code into .cursor/skills/dead-code/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "dead-code", then confirm the skill loads.

Cursor copies the folder itself, the same result as the manual copy. Check what it changed before you commit it.

gemini skills install

$ gemini skills install https://github.com/shift-editor/shift.git --path .claude/skills/dead-code

--scope user (default) or --scope workspace; --path is the subfolder of the repo that holds the skill; --consent skips the security confirmation prompt.

skills CLI

$ npx skills add shift-editor/shift --skill dead-code -a gemini-cli

Project install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.gemini/skills/.

GitHub CLI

$ gh skill install shift-editor/shift dead-code --agent gemini-cli

Project scope by default (.agents/skills/); add --scope user for a personal install.

Manual copy

$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/shift-editor/shift.git skills-src && mkdir -p .gemini/skills && cp -r skills-src/.claude/skills/dead-code .gemini/skills/dead-code && rm -rf skills-src

Use ~/.gemini/skills/ instead of .gemini/skills for a personal install, then run /skills reload.

Gemini CLI skills documentation · loads skills from .gemini/skills/, .agents/skills/

Paste into Gemini CLI

Install the "dead-code" agent skill from https://github.com/shift-editor/shift/tree/main/.claude/skills/dead-code into .gemini/skills/dead-code/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "dead-code", then confirm the skill loads.

Gemini CLI copies the folder itself, the same result as the manual copy. Check what it changed before you commit it.

GitHub CLI

$ gh skill install shift-editor/shift dead-code

Installs for Copilot at project scope by default; add --scope user for a personal install. Preview a skill first with gh skill preview. Needs GitHub CLI 2.90.0 or later (public preview).

skills CLI

$ npx skills add shift-editor/shift --skill dead-code -a github-copilot

Project install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.copilot/skills/.

Manual copy

$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/shift-editor/shift.git skills-src && mkdir -p .github/skills && cp -r skills-src/.claude/skills/dead-code .github/skills/dead-code && rm -rf skills-src

Use ~/.copilot/skills/ instead of .github/skills for a personal install. Commit .github/skills so cloud agent and code review can use it.

GitHub Copilot skills documentation · loads skills from .github/skills/, .claude/skills/, .agents/skills/

Paste into GitHub Copilot

Install the "dead-code" agent skill from https://github.com/shift-editor/shift/tree/main/.claude/skills/dead-code into .github/skills/dead-code/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "dead-code", then confirm the skill loads.

GitHub Copilot copies the folder itself, the same result as the manual copy. Check what it changed before you commit it.

skills CLI

$ npx skills add shift-editor/shift --skill dead-code -a opencode

OpenCode documents no install command of its own. Project install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.config/opencode/skills/.

GitHub CLI

$ gh skill install shift-editor/shift dead-code --agent opencode

Project scope by default (.agents/skills/); add --scope user for a personal install.

Manual copy

$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/shift-editor/shift.git skills-src && mkdir -p .opencode/skills && cp -r skills-src/.claude/skills/dead-code .opencode/skills/dead-code && rm -rf skills-src

Use ~/.config/opencode/skills/ instead of .opencode/skills for a personal install.

OpenCode skills documentation · loads skills from .opencode/skills/, .claude/skills/, .agents/skills/

Paste into OpenCode

Install the "dead-code" agent skill from https://github.com/shift-editor/shift/tree/main/.claude/skills/dead-code into .opencode/skills/dead-code/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "dead-code", then confirm the skill loads.

OpenCode copies the folder itself, the same result as the manual copy. Check what it changed before you commit it.

Facts

Skill name: dead-code
GitHub stars: 343
Token cost: ~1.8k tokens
SKILL.md length: 646 words
Files: 1
Skills in repo: 14
Repo updated: Oct 6, 2026
First seen: Oct 7, 2026
Licence: Apache-2.0

At a glance

Finds unused files, exports and class members with Knip, then verifies each candidate through reference tracing before removing anything, never using knip --fix.

Works in 3 steps: Discovery → Verification → Action
Cleaning up unused files and exports in a TypeScript codebase
SKILL.md covers Phase 1: Discovery, Phase 2: Verification, Phase 3: Action and Safety Protocol
Calls pnpm and npx

What it does

Knip is used only to generate candidates, through the project's deadcode and class-member scripts, and the output is sorted into unused files, unused exports and unused class members. The skill warns never to run knip --fix because it once deleted code that was in use, breaking the editor and its tests.

Each candidate is then checked by hand. Files are searched by name and checked against config files, test helpers, package scripts and CI. Exports are checked for barrel re-exports, extends and implements clauses and test-only use, with a find-refs.ts script giving a compiler-level reference count. Class members, where most false positives occur, are traced through interface contracts, composite types, dependency-injection interfaces, base classes and abstract methods.

When your agent uses it

Cleaning up unused files and exports in a TypeScript codebase
Deciding whether a class member that Knip flags is really unused
Reducing codebase size without breaking code Knip cannot trace

Example prompts

“Find dead code in this repo with Knip and verify each candidate before deleting anything.”
“Knip says this method is unused. Check interface contracts and base classes before I remove it.”
“Remove the unused exports, but check barrel files and test imports first.”

Requirements

Knip with the project's deadcode scripts configured
pnpm

Workflow steps

3 steps, taken from the step headings in SKILL.md.

Discovery
Verification
Action

What it can do on your machine

Read from SKILL.md and the folder at commit e7dacfa. 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:
- pnpm
- npx
From the folder's file list and the shell code blocks in SKILL.md.
Network
No URLs in SKILL.md. Its commands use pnpm and npx, 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

Dead Code Removal with Knip loads about 1.8k tokens when it runs. Until then it costs about 75 tokens; SKILL.md has 646 words of instructions outside code blocks.

Always · name and description, kept in context so the agent knows when to use it: ~75
When it runs · the whole SKILL.md, loaded when a task matches: ~1.8k

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

Auto-check passed

The automated check found no risky patterns in SKILL.md.

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 shift-editor/shift at commit e7dacfa, republished under its Apache-2.0 licence (© shift-editor). 646 words, ~1,807 tokens.

Download SKILL.mdSave it as .claude/skills/dead-code/SKILL.md (or your agent's skills folder).

name: dead-code
description: Find and remove dead code (unused files, exports, class members) using Knip as a candidate generator, then verify each candidate through AST-level analysis and interface tracing before removing anything. Use when the user asks to clean up unused code, find dead code, or reduce the codebase.

/dead-code — Find and Remove Dead Code

Use this skill to find unused files, exports, and class members in the codebase. It uses Knip as a candidate generator, then verifies each candidate through AST-level analysis and interface tracing before removing anything.

NEVER use knip --fix — it has previously deleted code that was actually in use, breaking the editor and tests.

Phase 1: Discovery

Run Knip to generate candidates:

bash

pnpm deadcode 2>&1        # unused files + exports
pnpm deadcode:class 2>&1  # unused class members

Parse the output into three categories:

Unused files — files with zero imports
Unused exports — exported symbols with no consumers
Unused class members — class methods/properties reported as unused

Phase 2: Verification

For each candidate, apply the appropriate checks below. Use scripts/find-refs.ts when reading code alone is insufficient.

Verifying Unused Files

Grep for the filename (without extension) across the codebase
Check config references: tsconfig.json, vite.*.config.ts, forge.config.ts
Check if it's a test helper imported by test files (Knip may miss test-only imports)
Check if it's referenced in package.json scripts or CI workflows

Verifying Unused Exports

Check if re-exported by a barrel file (index.ts) consumed by another package
Check if used in extends/implements clauses
Check if used only in test files (Knip sometimes misses test imports)
Run npx tsx scripts/find-refs.ts <file> <symbol> for compiler-level reference count

Verifying Unused Class Members (Main Pain Point)

This is where most false positives occur. Knip cannot trace usage through interfaces, composite types, or dep interfaces.

Check these patterns in order:

Interface contract — Is the member defined on an interface the class implements? Check the known interface contracts below.
Composite type — Is the class consumed through a type intersection? e.g., ShiftEditor = EditorAPI & CanvasCoordinatorContext means all EditorAPI members on Editor are used.
Dep interface — Is the member part of a dependency injection interface? Classes implement dep interfaces that are consumed by managers.
Base class — Is the member defined on a base class (BaseCommand, BaseTool) and used by subclasses?
Abstract member — Is it an abstract method that subclasses must implement?
Find References — Run npx tsx scripts/find-refs.ts <file> <memberName> for compiler confirmation.

Show full SKILL.md (312 more words)Show less

Known Interface Contracts (Always False Positives)

Members that satisfy any of these interfaces are NOT dead code, even if Knip reports them:

EditorAPI sub-interfaces (apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/lib/tools/core/EditorAPI.ts):

Viewport: zoomLevel, panX, panY, screenToUpm, upmToScreen, screenToUpmDistance, viewportBounds
Selection: selectedPointIds, selectedSegmentIds, selectPoints, selectSegments, clearSelection, marqueePreviewPointIds, setMarqueePreview
HitTesting: hitTestPoint, hitTestSegment, hitTestContour, hitTestBoundingBox, hitTestContourEndpoint, hitTestHandle
Snapping: createDragSnapSession, createRotateSnapSession, setSnapIndicator
Editing: startEdit, commitEdit, cancelEdit, isEditing
Commands: execute
ToolLifecycle: activeTool, setActiveTool, activeToolSettings
VisualState: hoveredPoint, setHoveredPoint, hoveredSegment, setHoveredSegment, cursor, setCursor

Font interface (apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/lib/editor/Font.ts):

getMetrics, getMetadata, getSvgPath, getAdvance, getBbox

Command interface (apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/lib/commands/core/):

execute, undo, redo, name

Behavior interface (apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/lib/tools/core/):

canHandle, transition, onTransition

BaseTool abstract members:

behaviors, render, executeAction, onStateChange, preTransition

Dep interfaces (consumed by managers, implemented by FontEngine or Editor):

EditingEngineDeps — apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/engine/editing.ts
SessionEngineDeps — apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/engine/session.ts
InfoEngineDeps — apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/engine/info.ts
IOEngineDeps — apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/engine/io.ts
Snap — apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/managers/SnapManager.ts
Clipboard — apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/managers/ClipboardManager.ts
CanvasCoordinatorContext — apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/lib/editor/rendering/CanvasCoordinator.ts

Using the Find References Script

bash

# Check if a symbol has any non-definition references
npx tsx scripts/find-refs.ts apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/lib/editor/Editor.ts undo

# Output shows: file, line, kind (definition vs reference)
# Zero non-definition references = confirmed dead
# >0 references = inspect them to confirm usage

Phase 3: Action

Categorize Results

Present a categorized report:

Category	Meaning	Action
Confirmed dead	No references, not on any interface	Remove with confirmation
Likely dead	Ambiguous — few references, possibly test-only	Flag for human review
False positive	Interface-mediated, dep interface, or base class	Tag with `@knipclassignore`

Removing Confirmed Dead Code

Remove the dead code manually (NEVER use knip --fix)
Run verification after each batch of removals:
bash
```
pnpm typecheck && pnpm test && pnpm lint:check
```
If tests fail, revert the removal and recategorize as "likely dead"

Tagging False Positives

For confirmed false positive class members, add the @knipclassignore JSDoc tag:

typescript

/** @knipclassignore */
undo(): void {
    // ...
}

After tagging, decrease the --max-issues threshold in package.json's deadcode:class script:

bash

# Current threshold
pnpm deadcode:class  # check current --max-issues value

# After tagging N false positives, reduce by N
# Edit package.json: --max-issues (current - N)

# Verify the new threshold holds
pnpm deadcode:class

The goal is to drive --max-issues toward 0, at which point CI catches any new dead code with zero tolerance.

Safety Protocol

NEVER use knip --fix or deadcode:fix
NEVER remove code without verifying it's not used through interfaces
ALWAYS run pnpm typecheck && pnpm test && pnpm lint:check after removals
ALWAYS check interface contracts before declaring a class member dead
If in doubt, categorize as "likely dead" rather than "confirmed dead"

Files

Just SKILL.md in .claude/skills/dead-code of shift-editor/shift.

Open the folder on GitHubat commit e7dacfa

Compare with similar skills

Dead Code Removal with Knip next to the 5 skills that share the most tags, products or categories with it. Stars are the repository's; “used in” counts other GitHub owners with a copy.

Dead Code Removal with Knip compared with similar skills
Skill	Stars	Used in	Tokens	Auto-check	Licence	Repo updated
Dead Code Removal with Knip this skillshift-editor/shift	343	—	~1.8k	Automated safety check: Pass	Apache-2.0	yesterday
DRY Refactoring With jscpdkucherenko/jscpd	6.3k	—	~2.1k	Automated safety check: Pass	MIT	today
Code RefinerMathews-Tom/armory	327	—	~3.1k	Automated safety check: Pass	MIT	yesterday
Code Simplification for ego-litecitrolabs/ego-lite	17k	—	~1.2k	Automated safety check: Pass	MIT	14 days ago
Dep Refszai-org/ZCode	7.5k	—	~552	Automated safety check: Pass	Apache-2.0	8 days ago
Codebase Health Refactoringkucherenko/jscpd	6.3k	—	~2.5k	Automated safety check: Pass	MIT	today

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Questions about Dead Code Removal with Knip

What does Dead Code Removal with Knip do?

Finds unused files, exports and class members with Knip, then verifies each candidate through reference tracing before removing anything, never using knip --fix. Knip is used only to generate candidates, through the project's deadcode and class-member scripts, and the output is sorted into unused files, unused exports and unused class members. The skill warns never to run knip --fix because it once deleted code that was in use, breaking the editor and its tests.

When should I use Dead Code Removal with Knip?

Dead Code Removal with Knip fits situations like: cleaning up unused files and exports in a TypeScript codebase; deciding whether a class member that Knip flags is really unused; reducing codebase size without breaking code Knip cannot trace.

How do I install Dead Code Removal with Knip in Claude Code?

Run `npx skills add shift-editor/shift --skill dead-code -a claude-code`. Or copy the skill folder (.claude/skills/dead-code in shift-editor/shift) into .claude/skills/dead-code in your project. Claude Code loads it when a task matches its description.

How do I install Dead Code Removal with Knip in Codex?

Run `npx skills add shift-editor/shift --skill dead-code -a codex`. Or copy the skill folder (.claude/skills/dead-code in shift-editor/shift) into .agents/skills/dead-code in your project. Codex loads it when a task matches its description.

Can I use Dead Code Removal with Knip in Cursor, Gemini CLI or GitHub Copilot?

Cursor, Gemini CLI, GitHub Copilot and OpenCode also load SKILL.md folders. With the skills CLI, run `npx skills add shift-editor/shift --skill dead-code -a cursor` (or -a gemini-cli, github-copilot or opencode for the others). To copy it by hand, put the folder in .cursor/skills/dead-code, .gemini/skills/dead-code, .github/skills/dead-code and .opencode/skills/dead-code in your project.

What does Dead Code Removal with Knip need to run?

Going by SKILL.md and its folder, Dead Code Removal with Knip needs the command-line tools its instructions call (pnpm and npx). Our summary lists: Knip with the project's deadcode scripts configured; pnpm.

Does Dead Code Removal with Knip access the network?

SKILL.md contains no URLs. Its commands use npx, which can reach the network depending on how they are called. This is read from the text; nothing was executed.

Is Dead Code Removal with Knip safe to install?

Our automated static check of SKILL.md found no risky patterns, such as piping downloads into a shell, reading credential files or hidden Unicode. It is not a guarantee. Review the folder before installing.

What licence does Dead Code Removal with Knip use?

Dead Code Removal with Knip is published under the Apache-2.0 licence (the repository's licence). It allows redistribution, so the full SKILL.md is shown on this page.

How many tokens does Dead Code Removal with Knip use?

About 1.8k tokens (SKILL.md is roughly 7.2k characters). Agents keep only the skill's name and description in context until a task matches; then they load SKILL.md in full.

What are the alternatives to Dead Code Removal with Knip?

Skills that share tags, products or a category with Dead Code Removal with Knip: DRY Refactoring With jscpd (kucherenko/jscpd, 6.3k stars), Code Refiner (Mathews-Tom/armory, 327 stars), Code Simplification for ego-lite (citrolabs/ego-lite, 17k stars) and Dep Refs (zai-org/ZCode, 7.5k stars). The comparison table on this page puts their stars, adoption, token cost, safety result and licence side by side.

Who maintains Dead Code Removal with Knip?

shift-editor (a GitHub organization) maintains it in shift-editor/shift, which has 343 GitHub stars. The repository holds 14 skills in this directory. The repository was last updated on October 6, 2026.

Source: shift-editor/shift on GitHub. Facts on this page come from the repository at the commit we read; the author's words are quoted as theirs.

Install Dead Code Removal with Knip

Facts

At a glance

What it does

When your agent uses it

Example prompts

Requirements

Workflow steps

What it can do on your machine

Tool permissions

Runs code

Network

Credentials

Context cost

Safety

SKILL.md

/dead-code — Find and Remove Dead Code

Phase 1: Discovery

Phase 2: Verification

Verifying Unused Files

Verifying Unused Exports

Verifying Unused Class Members (Main Pain Point)

Known Interface Contracts (Always False Positives)

Using the Find References Script

Phase 3: Action

Categorize Results

Removing Confirmed Dead Code

Tagging False Positives

Safety Protocol

Files

Compare with similar skills

Similar skills

More from shift-editor/shift

Related

Questions about Dead Code Removal with Knip