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    dead-code-detector

    by Zicheng Liao

    Scan multi-language codebases for unused variables, orphaned functions, and unreachable code with severity ranking.

    Updated May 2026
    Security scanned
    One-time purchase

    $10

    · or 50 credits

    One-time purchase

    30-day refund guarantee

    Secure checkout via Stripe

    Included in download

    • Clean up orphaned functions and variables after a large-scale refactoring
    • Audit codebases for accidental debug statements or log leaks before release
    • terminal automation included
    • Includes example output and usage patterns
    • Instant install

    See it in action

    A real example of what this skill takes in and produces.

    Sample output

    Dead Code Report

    CRITICAL (Safe to Remove):

    • src/auth.py:12 [Unused import] from collections import OrderedDict (Confidence: HIGH)
    • src/api/v1.py:45 [Unused function] legacy_user_sync() (Confidence: HIGH) INFO:
    • src/app.ts:89 [Debug statement] console.log('User payload:', data) (Confidence: HIGH)

    About This Skill

    Reduce Technical Debt and Codebase Bloat

    As codebases evolve, unused functions, orphaned imports, and unreachable logic inevitably accumulate. This skill provides a comprehensive, multi-language engine to identify and help remove "dead" code that slows down developers and increases maintenance overhead.

    What it does

    The Dead Code Detector performs high-confidence static analysis across your entire project. It goes beyond simple linter rules by cross-referencing symbols across files to ensure a function or variable really isn't used anywhere in the codebase. It detects:

    • Unused imports, variables, and private methods.
    • Orphaned functions, classes, and exported symbols.
    • Unreachable code paths after return or throw statements.
    • Leftover debugging statements (console.log, debugger) and large commented-out code blocks.

    Supported Languages & Frameworks

    Developed for polyglot environments, it supports Python, JavaScript/TypeScript, Go, Rust, Java, and C/C++. It is framework-aware, meaning it understands that decorators in Flask/Django or components in React/Vue constitute "usage" even if they lack direct references in the source logic.

    Why use this skill?

    Unlike raw AI prompts that only see the current file, this skill applies a systematic multi-pass workflow. It validates findings against project-wide greps, handles framework-specific entry points, and recognizes dynamic usage patterns (like reflection or DI). The result is a severity-ranked report that distinguishes between "Safe to Remove" and "Verify Before Removal," giving you 100% confidence before hitting delete.

    Use Cases

    • Reduce bundle size and build times by removing unused exports and imports
    • Clean up orphaned functions and variables after a large-scale refactoring
    • Audit codebases for accidental debug statements or log leaks before release
    • Identify unreachable logic blocks and commented-out code to improve readability

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    Security Scanned

    Passed automated security review

    Permissions

    Terminal / Shell

    File Scopes

    dead-code-detector/**

    Tags

    code-quality
    refactoring
    static-analysis
    devops
    cleanup

    Creator

    Zicheng Liao

    Frequently Asked Questions

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