clean-code Skill (sickn33) for Claude Code: Apply Clean Code Principles

Skill that makes your assistant write, review and refactor code using the principles from Robert C. Martin's Clean Code.

Installs: 12.7K; on skills.sh
Stars: 49K; on GitHub
Updated: Nov 2026; last repo commit

Use it when you write new code, review a pull request or refactor legacy code. SKILL.md lists nine areas to apply, from meaningful names and small functions to error handling, unit tests and code smells, plus a short checklist.

It says these are design heuristics, not rules for every language. The assistant should follow your repository's own conventions, refactor only within scope and verify behavior. It is one file and bundles no scripts.

Good for

Developers refactoring legacy code
Reviewers who want principle-based feedback on pull requests
Teams aligning on shared code standards

Install clean-code

Claude Code

Copy this prompt.

Install the clean-code skill in Claude Code. Run this command:

npx skills add https://github.com/sickn33/agentic-awesome-skills --skill clean-code

Then check that it loaded and tell me how to use it.

2
Paste it into Claude Code. It shows the change and asks before running it.

Requires Node.js.

From its listing on skills.sh. Source.

What's in the skill

When it loads

This skill embodies the principles of "Clean Code" by Robert C. Martin (Uncle Bob). Use it to transform "code that works" into "code that is clean."

Sections in SKILL.md

🧠 Core Philosophy
When to Use
1. Meaningful Names
2. Functions
3. Comments
4. Formatting
5. Objects and Data Structures
6. Error Handling
7. Unit Tests
8. Classes
9. Smells and Heuristics
🛠️ Implementation Checklist
Example
Limitations

Key facts

Source: SKILL.md frontmatter names ClawForge (https://github.com/jackjin1997/ClawForge); the repo owner is sickn33
License: MIT (crawl data)
Installs on skills.sh: 12,653 as of 2026-11-02
GitHub stars: 48,978 for the whole sickn33/agentic-awesome-skills repo, 2026-11-02
Last repo commit: 2026-11-01
Files: 1 file: SKILL.md; no scripts

What it includes

Intention-revealing, pronounceable names, nouns for classes and verbs for methods.
Read · Meaningful names
Small, one thing, one level of abstraction, few arguments and no side effects.
Read · Functions
Rewrite bad code instead of commenting it; keep legal and informative comments.
Read · Comments
Newspaper metaphor, vertical density, distance and indentation.
Read · Formatting
Data abstraction, the Law of Demeter and DTOs.
Read · Objects and data structures
Exceptions over return codes, and do not return or pass null.
Read · Error handling
The Three Laws of TDD and the F.I.R.S.T. principles.
Read · Unit tests
Single responsibility and the Stepdown Rule.
Read · Classes
Rigidity, fragility, immobility, viscosity and needless complexity or repetition.
Read · Smells and heuristics
Six yes-or-no questions, such as whether a function is under 20 lines.
Read · Implementation checklist

From the official docs

Questions

What does the clean-code skill do?

It makes your assistant apply the principles from Robert C. Martin's Clean Code when it writes, reviews or refactors code. SKILL.md covers nine areas, from names to code smells.

How do I install it?

Use the install box at the top of this page. The skill is one Markdown file. The repo README also describes a Claude plugin marketplace route and its own installer, both built for the whole skill library. Pick the single-skill route if you only want this one.

Will it change my behavior or style rules?

SKILL.md says the principles are heuristics, not universal language rules or authority to change behavior. It tells the assistant to follow your repository conventions and refactor only within scope.

Is it safe?

The skill is one Markdown file with advice and bundles no scripts. Refactors still change your code. Our advice: review the diff and run your tests.

Which languages does it cover?

SKILL.md names no language. It says details such as exceptions versus result types and nullability depend on the language and task.

Where does it come from?

The SKILL.md frontmatter lists its source as ClawForge and its date added as 2026-02-27.

Information

updated Nov 2, 2026

Repository: sickn33/agentic-awesome-skills
Folder: skills/clean-code

sickn33/agentic-awesome-skills skills.sh

Sources

Docs, issue trackers and discussions this page is built from.

Show all 2

SKILL.md · github.com
README.md · github.com