Deadcode

deadcode

scan the project for unused code, list every finding with reasoning, then clean up after approval.

steps

1. run knip to detect dead code:

``bash npx knip ``

1. present findings as a table with columns:

• item (file, export, dependency, or type)
• location (file path and line number)
• reason it's flagged (nothing imports it, no file references it, etc.)

1. verify each finding before recommending deletion:

• grep the codebase for references (imports, dynamic requires, string references)
• check if it's used in scripts, configs, or tests that knip might miss
• check if it's a public API entry point that external consumers use
• flag anything uncertain as "needs review" instead of "safe to delete"

1. wait for approval before making any changes. never auto-delete.

1. after approval, make changes and run the build to confirm nothing broke.

what it catches

• unused files: components, utils, pages that nothing imports
• unused exports: exported functions, types, constants that nothing outside the file uses
• unused dependencies: packages in package.json that no file imports
• unused devDependencies: dev packages that no config or script references
• unlisted dependencies: packages used in code but missing from package.json
• unused types: exported TypeScript types with no external consumers

rules

• never delete without showing findings and getting approval first
• always verify with grep before calling something unused. knip can miss dynamic imports, barrel files, and config references
• always run the build after cleanup to catch breakage
• if a dependency is only used in a script (not src/), check scripts before flagging
• commit cleanup separately from feature work

Source & license

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

• Author: tommylower
• Source: tommylower/cortex
• License: MIT

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