Continuous Refactor

continuous-refactor

Purpose

Run the continuous-refactor workflow in continuous mode until the dispatcher returns recommended_role: stop (only [MINOR] refactoring ideas remain).

The workflow rotates through three prompt steps in a strict cycle:

1. prompt.refactor_scan — identify code smells and refactoring candidates
2. prompt.refactor_execute — apply selected refactorings
3. prompt.refactor_verify — verify refactored code correctness

Cold starts are handled automatically — the infrastructure initialises the rotation at step 1 when no prior runtime entry exists.

Agent execution protocol

Run one dispatcher step at a time:

# 1. Ask the dispatcher for the next prompt
python3 .codex/skills/vibe-loop/scripts/agentctl.py --repo-root . --format json next --workflow continuous-refactor

# 2. Read the prompt body from the catalog
python3 .codex/skills/vibe-prompts/scripts/prompt_catalog.py .codex/skills/vibe-prompts/resources/template_prompts.md get 

# 3. Execute the prompt body (do the actual refactoring work)

# 4. After execution, record the loop result
python3 .codex/skills/vibe-loop/scripts/agentctl.py --repo-root . --format json loop-result --line "LOOP_RESULT: "

# 5. Repeat from step 1 until recommended_role == "stop"

The --workflow continuous-refactor flag is required — it activates the continuous override that ignores normal plan-state routing and selects from the refactor prompt rotation instead.

LOOP_RESULT format

After executing each prompt, emit a LOOP_RESULT JSON line with these required fields:

{
  "loop": "implement",
  "result": "ready_for_review",
  "stage": "",
  "checkpoint": "",
  "status": "",
  "next_role_hint": "implement|review|stop",
  "report": {
    "acceptance_matrix": [],
    "top_findings": [
      {"impact": "MAJOR|MODERATE|MINOR", "title": "...", "evidence": "...", "action": "..."}
    ]
  }
}

Use impact tags ([MAJOR], [MODERATE], [MINOR]) in top_findings titles. The workflow stops when only [MINOR] ideas remain.

Scripts (wrapper)

• scripts/continuous_refactor.py

Wraps vibe-run with --workflow continuous-refactor. Useful for terminal or headless modes:

# Interactive (terminal)
python3 .codex/skills/continuous-refactor/scripts/continuous_refactor.py --repo-root . --show-decision

# Headless dry-run
python3 .codex/skills/continuous-refactor/scripts/continuous_refactor.py --repo-root . --non-interactive --simulate-loop-result --max-loops 10 --show-decision

Notes

• Uses the same LOOP_RESULT acknowledgement flow as vibe-run.
• The dispatcher handles cold starts (no workflow_runtime.json entry) by

starting the rotation at step 1 — no manual initialisation is needed.

• If the dispatcher returns requires_loop_result: true, record the pending

LOOP_RESULT before calling next again.

• Refer to resources/refactoring-guide.md for code smell heuristics.

Source & license

This open-source skill is cataloged on AgentStack and links to its original source — we do not rehost the code.

• Author: brifl
• Source: brifl/coding-agent-orchestration
• License: MIT

Install and usage instructions live in the source repository linked above.