improve-codebase-architecture
Find deepening opportunities in a codebase, informed by the domain language in CONTEXT.md and the decisions in docs/adr/. Use when the user wants to improve architecture, find refactoring opportunities, consolidate tightly-coupled modules, or make a codebase more testable and AI-navigable.
npx skills add stevesolun/ctx --skill improve-codebase-architecture --agent claude-code
Same command for any agent — swap --agent for codex, cursor, copilot.
Weekly change comes from our own snapshots, not the repository page — it measures attention, not adoption.
# Improve Codebase Architecture Surface architectural friction and propose **deepening opportunities** — refactors that turn shallow modules into deep ones. The aim is testability and AI-navigability. ## Glossary Use these terms exactly in every suggestion. Consistent language is the point — don't drift into "component," "service," "API," or "boundary." Full definitions in [LANGUAGE.md](LANGUAGE.md). - **Module** — anything with an interface and an implementation (function, class, package, slice). - **Interface** — everything a caller must know to use the module: types, invariants, error modes, ordering, config. Not just the type signature. - **Implementation** — the code inside. - **Depth** — leverage at the interface: a lot of behaviour behind a small interface. **Deep** = high leverage. **Shallow** = interface nearly as complex as the implementation. - **Seam** — where an interface lives; a place behaviour can be altered without editing in place. (Use this, not "boundary.") - **Adapter** — a concrete thing satisfying an interface at a seam. - **Leverage** — what callers get from depth. - **Locality** — what maintainers get from depth: change, bugs, knowledge concentrated in one
- Glossary
- Process
- 1. Explore
- 2. Present candidates
- 3. Grilling loop
What does the improve-codebase-architecture skill do?
Find deepening opportunities in a codebase, informed by the domain language in CONTEXT.md and the decisions in docs/adr/. Use when the user wants to improve architecture, find refactoring opportunities, consolidate tightly-coupled modules, or make a codebase more testable and AI-navigable.
How do I install it?
Run `npx skills add stevesolun/ctx --skill improve-codebase-architecture --agent claude-code` — it drops the skill into your project so the agent can pick it up. Swap the --agent value for codex, cursor or copilot if you use one of those.
Where does this skill come from?
From stevesolun/ctx, a repository with 569 stars. We read it straight from the repository tree rather than a submitted listing, so what you see here is what is actually published.
Is a popular skill a good skill?
Not necessarily. Stars measure attention, not adoption — a repository can trend for a week and be abandoned. That is why we show the weekly change from our own snapshots next to the total, instead of a single flattering number.