Improve Codebase Architecture: Let AI Conduct Architecture Review First Before Deciding Where to Modify
Matt Pocock’s `improve-codebase-architecture` is a user-invoked Agent Skill: it scans for shallow modules and leaky seams based on recent commit hotspots, filters candidates using deletion tests, drafts deepening opportunities into an off-repo HTML report (built with Tailwind + Mermaid), then conducts a grilling on the item you select. It does not modify business code, with the output being testable and navigable architectural decisions, before proceeding to to-spec, to-tickets and implementation stages. It is suitable for regular technical debt governance and structural health checks before major overhauls, rather than automated refactoring.
Read MoreUse Matt Pocock's TDD Skills for Vertical Slice Test-Driven Development
This article introduces Matt Pocock's tdd Skill constrained programming Agent that follows vertical slice TDD: first agree on the public seams, then write exactly one failing test and just enough implementation code to pass it each time. Based on GitHub's SKILL.md, tests.md, mocking.md and aihero.dev, the article sorts out the testing standards, three anti-patterns, mocking boundaries, installation methods for Cursor / Claude Code / Codex, as well as restrictions such as refactoring being moved to code review and not suitable for glue code.
Read Moregrill-me: Before you start coding, let the Agent ask you thoroughly first
grill-me is the user-triggered entry point in Matt Pocock’s skill set: before the Agent takes action, it conducts round-by-round questioning via a decision tree to refine unformed ideas into actionable commitments. It is stateless, does not write files, and the topics do not have to be related to code. The actual interview loop is located in the grilling directory within the same repository, and simply deploying grill-me often fails to run properly. Based on the official SKILL.md and aihero.dev documentation, this article organizes the installation method, question format, the division of labor between grill-with-docs and wayfinder, as well as common pitfalls such as passive nodding, overly broad scope, and unloaded Skill.
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