---
name: dead-code
description: This skill should be used when the user asks to find dead code, unused code, orphaned exports, "what code is never used", "find unused functions/classes/types", or wants to clean up code that is exported but never imported.
---

# Dead Code Finder

Find exported code that is never imported or used anywhere in the codebase, using the Constellation `code_intel` tool (from the `constellation` MCP server).

## How to Run

If the user wants to filter by symbol kind (function, class, type, interface, variable), pass it as `filterByKind`; otherwise call with no filter:

```javascript
// Unfiltered scan
const result = await api.findOrphanedCode({});
return result;
```

```javascript
// Filtered by kind
const result = await api.findOrphanedCode({ filterByKind: ["function"] });
return result;
```

## Presenting Results

**If orphaned code is found:**

1. **Summary**: Total count of orphaned exports, broken down by kind (function, class, etc.)
2. **Files with Most Orphans**: Group results by file, sorted by count (show top 20)
3. **For Each File**: List the orphaned symbol names, kinds, and orphan reasons (each result includes `reason` and a `confidence` score; `lineEnd` is present when known)

**Recommendations to include:**

- Review each orphaned export to confirm it's truly unused
- Some may be entry points or dynamically imported
- Consider removing confirmed dead code to reduce maintenance burden
- Focus on files with multiple orphans first

Before actually deleting a candidate, confirm with `api.traceSymbolUsage({ symbolName, filePath })` (see the `impact-analysis` skill).

**If no orphans found**, congratulate the user on a clean codebase.

**If error**, explain the error and provide guidance from the error response. The `constellation-troubleshooting` skill covers error codes in depth.