Technical Debt Audit

Technical Debt Audit

Version: 1.1.0 Updated: 2026-05-17 Freshly updated: v1.1.0 swaps deprecated wordpress tool names to respira, picks up v7.0.x bug fixes across Bricks, Beaver, Oxygen, Breakdance, Divi 4, Divi 5, WPBakery + Uncode, and the v7.1 Elementor 4 atomic-write surface. Category: audit Status: active Requires: Respira for WordPress plugin + MCP server Telemetry endpoint: https://www.respira.press/api/skills/track-usage

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Description

Find orphaned content, unused plugins, and database bloat before they cause problems.

Technical Debt Audit performs a comprehensive scan for accumulated junk in your WordPress installation. It finds orphaned shortcodes from deleted plugins, identifies plugins you installed but never use, calculates database bloat from revisions and transients, and detects unused media files. This skill shows you exactly what's slowing your site down and provides safe cleanup workflows using Respira's duplicate-first approach.

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Trigger Phrases

This skill activates when the user says any of the following:

• "audit my wordpress technical debt"
• "find orphaned shortcodes"
• "scan for unused plugins"
• "check database bloat"
• "wordpress cleanup audit"
• "find legacy code issues"
• "wordpress technical debt"
• "clean up my wordpress"
• "what's bloating my wordpress"
• "wordpress junk cleanup"
• "unused plugins audit"
• "orphaned content wordpress"

Do NOT trigger for: general WordPress questions, requests to install specific plugins, theme customization, or non-audit WordPress tasks.

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Execution Workflow

Step 1: Respira Verification

Before anything else, verify Respira for WordPress is installed and the MCP server is connected by calling respira_get_site_context. If it fails or returns an error, stop and show the installation guide.

If Respira is NOT installed, output this and STOP:

## ⛔ Respira for WordPress Required

This skill requires the **Respira for WordPress** plugin to analyze your site safely.

### Install in 3 steps:
1. Go to **https://www.respira.press** and download the plugin
2. Install and activate on your WordPress site
3. Connect via the MCP server: `npx -y @respira/wordpress-mcp-server --setup`

### Why Respira?
- Read-only analysis — no changes to your live site
- Duplicate-first cleanup so nothing breaks
- Full audit trail for every action

Once installed, come back and try again: *"audit my wordpress technical debt"*

If MCP is connected but site unreachable:

## ⚠️ Cannot Connect to WordPress Site

Respira is installed but cannot reach your WordPress site.

### Troubleshooting:
1. Verify your WordPress site is online
2. Check the Respira plugin is active (not just installed)
3. Confirm MCP server configuration in Claude settings
4. Review API key in Respira → Settings → API Keys

**Help:** https://www.respira.press/docs/mcp-setup

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Step 2: Site Context

Tool: respira_get_site_context
Returns: WordPress version, PHP version, active theme, installed plugins,
         detected page builder, custom post types, memory limit, debug mode

Record: respira_site_url, started_at = new Date().toISOString()

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Step 3: Plugin Audit

Tool: respira_list_plugins
Returns: All installed plugins with name, slug, version, active status,
         update availability, last updated date

Categorize each plugin:

• never_activated: installed but active = false with no recorded activation
• activated_unused: active = true but no shortcodes, widgets, or hooks found in content
• long_inactive: active = false, last updated or used 6+ months ago

If respira_list_plugins is unavailable, use plugin list from respira_get_site_context for a summary-level audit and note the limitation.

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Step 4: Content Scan for Orphaned Shortcodes

Tool: respira_list_pages
Params: { status: "any" }
Returns: All pages with content

Tool: respira_list_posts
Params: { status: "any" }
Returns: All posts with content

Scan all page and post content for [shortcode_name] patterns. Cross-reference each shortcode against the active plugin list. Any shortcode whose originating plugin is absent or inactive is orphaned.

Build a table:

• Shortcode name
• Pages/posts affected (count and IDs)
• Likely source plugin
• Plugin current status (deleted/inactive/unknown)

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Step 5: Builder Archaeology

Tool: respira_get_builder_info
Returns: Active builder name, version, available modules

Cross-reference installed builders (from plugin list) against actual content usage (from page/post scan). Flag any builder that is installed but has zero pages using it — this generates orphaned builder data on disk.

Builder data size estimates:

• Elementor: ~50-200MB if active, similar if dormant
• Divi: ~100-500MB for full install with unused builder data
• WPBakery: ~20-50MB
• Beaver Builder: ~30-80MB

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Step 6: Database Bloat Assessment

Tool: respira_get_site_context
Returns: Database stats if available in site context

Tool: respira_analyze_performance
Params: { pageId:  }
Returns: Performance data including caching status

Estimate bloat indicators from available data:

• Post revisions: WordPress keeps unlimited revisions by default
• Transients: expired options stored in wp_options
• Orphaned postmeta: metadata rows with no matching post
• Spam comments: unmoderated or marked spam

If direct database stats are unavailable via MCP, note this clearly and provide the manual SQL queries the user can run themselves.

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Step 7: Unused Media Detection

Tool: respira_list_pages
Tool: respira_list_posts

Scan content for image references and media embeds. Compare against what's referenced. Note: full media library enumeration may not be available via MCP — if unavailable, provide the approach Respira can use to generate this report.

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Step 8: Debt Score Calculation

Calculate a debt score (0-100, higher = less debt = better):

Shortcode Health (25 points):
  - No orphaned shortcodes: 25 pts
  - 1-5 orphaned shortcodes: 15 pts
  - 6-20 orphaned shortcodes: 8 pts
  - 20+ orphaned shortcodes: 0 pts

Plugin Hygiene (25 points):
  - No inactive plugins: 25 pts
  - 1-3 inactive plugins: 18 pts
  - 4-10 inactive plugins: 10 pts
  - 10+ inactive plugins: 3 pts

Builder Cleanliness (20 points):
  - All installed builders in use: 20 pts
  - 1 dormant builder installed: 10 pts
  - 2+ dormant builders: 3 pts

Database Cleanliness (15 points):
  - Revisions limited (wp_post_revisions set): 8 pts
  - Caching plugin active: 7 pts

Content Hygiene (15 points):
  - No draft accumulation ( {}); // silently ignore failures

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Report Output Template

# 📋 Technical Debt Audit Report

**Site:** [URL]
**Analyzed:** [Timestamp]
**Debt Score:** [0-100] [🟢/🟡/🟠/🔴]

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## Executive Summary

- **Orphaned Shortcodes:** [count] across [n] pages
- **Unused Plugins:** [count] installed but not contributing anything
- **Database Bloat:** estimated [size]MB of unnecessary data
- **Unused Media:** [count] files (estimated [size]MB wasted)
- **Dormant Builders:** [count] installed with zero pages using them

### Priority Actions
1. [Highest impact cleanup]
2. [Second priority]
3. [Third priority]

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## Orphaned Shortcodes

| Shortcode | Pages Affected | Likely Plugin | Plugin Status |
|-----------|----------------|---------------|---------------|
| [shortcode] | [n] pages | [Plugin Name] | Deleted / Inactive |

**Impact:** Broken or invisible content on [n] pages.

**Respira Cleanup Workflow:**

"Create duplicate copies of all pages with orphaned [shortcode] tags so i can review and replace them with current blocks"

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## Unused Plugins

### Never Activated
[List plugins installed but never turned on, with install date if available]

### Activated but Unused
[List plugins that are active but have no detected usage in content, widgets, or hooks]

### Inactive 6+ Months
[List plugins deactivated and untouched for six months or more]

**Impact:** [n] plugins loading or sitting on disk for no reason. Attack surface and admin clutter.

**Respira Cleanup Workflow:**

"Show me all inactive plugins and help me safely deactivate then remove the ones i don't need, one at a time, testing the site after each"

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## Database Bloat

| Category | Estimated Count | Estimated Size |
|----------|----------------|----------------|
| Post Revisions | [n] | [size]MB |
| Expired Transients | [n] | [size]MB |
| Orphaned Postmeta | [n] | [size]MB |
| Spam Comments | [n] | [size]MB |
| **Total Estimated** | **[n]** | **[size]MB** |

**Note:** These are estimates based on site age, plugin history, and post count. Exact figures require direct database access.

**Respira Cleanup Workflow:**

"Generate a safe database cleanup plan for my site — show me exactly what will be removed before we do anything, and run it on a staging copy first"

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## Unused Media

- **Files referenced in content:** [n]
- **Files potentially orphaned:** [n] (uploaded but not found in any content)
- **Estimated wasted disk:** [size]MB

**Note:** Media audit accuracy depends on scan depth. Embeds in custom fields or theme options may not be detected.

**Respira Cleanup Workflow:**

"List all media files not referenced in any posts or pages so i can review before archiving or deleting anything"

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## Builder Archaeology

| Builder | Status | Pages Using | Orphaned Data |
|---------|--------|-------------|---------------|
| [Builder] | Active / Inactive | [n] pages | [size]MB / None |

**Respira Cleanup Workflow:**

"Verify no pages use [Builder] builder, then help me safely remove it and clean up the leftover data"

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## Severity Breakdown

🔴 **Critical** ([count])
[Issues requiring immediate attention]

🟠 **High** ([count])
[Important issues affecting performance or security]

🟡 **Medium** ([count])
[Should address in the next 30 days]

⚪ **Low** ([count])
[Nice-to-haves and minor housekeeping]

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## Safe Cleanup Roadmap

**Week 1: High-Impact, Low-Risk**
1. Deactivate never-used plugins (test after each)
2. Clean expired transients (safe, always reversible)
3. Remove orphaned shortcodes from duplicate pages

**Week 2: Media and Content**
1. Archive unused media files (30-day safety window before deletion)
2. Limit post revisions going forward
3. Moderate and clear spam comment queue

**Week 3: Deeper Cleanup**
1. Remove dormant builder data after confirming zero usage
2. Delete confirmed-safe plugins
3. Optimize database tables

Each step uses Respira's duplicate-first workflow. Nothing touches your live site until you approve it.

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**Honest note:**

This skill identifies technical debt. Cleanup is manual and intentional. Respira creates duplicates first so you can test changes safely before they go anywhere near your live site.

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*Report generated by Technical Debt Audit · Powered by Respira for WordPress*
*Re-run anytime: "audit my wordpress technical debt"*

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MCP Tools Reference

All tools below are provided by the respira-wordpress MCP server. Never call tools that are not in this list.

| Tool | Purpose | Required Params | |------|---------|-----------------| | respira_get_site_context | WP version, PHP, theme, plugins, builder, debug mode | none | | respira_get_builder_info | Active builder modules and detailed config | none | | respira_list_plugins | All plugins with active status, version, update info | none | | respira_list_pages | All pages with IDs, status, content | { status: "any" } | | respira_list_posts | All posts with IDs, status, content | { status: "any" } | | respira_analyze_performance | Load time, caching, CSS/JS bloat for a page | { pageId: number } |

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Error Handling

Partial Analysis Failure

If some MCP tools fail but core analysis succeeds:

## ⚠️ Partial Analysis Completed

Most modules completed. Some data may be incomplete.

**Completed:** ✅ Core info · ✅ Plugin audit · ✅ Content scan
**Partial/Failed:** ⚠️ [module name] — [reason]

The report below reflects available data. Re-run for complete results.

Full Failure

## ❌ Analysis Failed

Unable to complete Technical Debt Audit.

**Error:** [error message]

**Try:**
1. Verify WordPress site is online
2. Check Respira plugin is active
3. Restart MCP server connection
4. Contact support: https://www.respira.press/support

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Evaluation Test Cases

Benchmark Tests

{
  "test_suite": "technical-debt-audit-benchmark",
  "version": "1.0.0",
  "tests": [
    {
      "id": "bench-001",
      "name": "Clean site with minimal debt",
      "input": "audit my wordpress technical debt",
      "expected_behavior": "Completes audit, debt score >= 75, no critical issues",
      "pass_criteria": ["debt_score present", "orphaned_shortcodes count present", "plugin audit present"],
      "timeout_ms": 60000
    },
    {
      "id": "bench-002",
      "name": "Legacy site with heavy debt",
      "input": "find orphaned shortcodes",
      "context": "Site has 10+ inactive plugins, multiple dormant builders, 15+ orphaned shortcodes",
      "expected_behavior": "Detects all orphaned shortcodes, flags inactive plugins, scores 0-40",
      "pass_criteria": ["orphaned shortcodes listed", "debt_score = 80, minimal cleanup recommendations"
    },
    {
      "id": "reg-002",
      "name": "Legacy agency handoff site",
      "plugins": 47,
      "orphaned_shortcodes": 23,
      "inactive_builders": 2,
      "expected": "debt_score <= 40, critical issues listed, roadmap generated"
    },
    {
      "id": "reg-003",
      "name": "Established blog with no cleanup",
      "post_count": 500,
      "estimated_revisions": "high",
      "spam_comments": "high",
      "expected": "database bloat section populated, cleanup SQL provided"
    }
  ]
}

Source & license

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

• Author: respira-press
• Source: respira-press/agent-skills-wordpress
• License: MIT
• Homepage: https://respira.press/skills

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