refactor-method-complexity-reduce

Refactor Method to Reduce Cognitive Complexity

Objective

Refactor the method ${input:methodName}, to reduce its cognitive complexity to ${input:complexityThreshold} or below, by extracting logic into focused helper methods.

Instructions

1. Analyze the current method to identify sources of cognitive complexity:

• Nested conditional statements
• Multiple if-else or switch chains
• Repeated code blocks
• Multiple loops with conditions
• Complex boolean expressions

1. Identify extraction opportunities:

• Validation logic that can be extracted into a separate method
• Type-specific or case-specific processing that repeats
• Complex transformations or calculations
• Common patterns that appear multiple times

1. Extract focused helper methods:

• Each helper should have a single, clear responsibility
• Extract validation into separate Validate* methods
• Extract type-specific logic into handler methods
• Create utility methods for common operations
• Use appropriate access levels (static, private, async)

1. Simplify the main method:

• Reduce nesting depth
• Replace massive if-else chains with smaller orchestrated calls
• Use switch statements where appropriate for cleaner dispatch
• Ensure the main method reads as a high-level flow

1. Preserve functionality:

• Maintain the same input/output behavior
• Keep all validation and error handling
• Preserve exception types and error messages
• Ensure all parameters are properly passed to helpers

1. Best practices:

• Make helper methods static when they don't need instance state
• Use null checks and guard clauses early
• Avoid creating unnecessary local variables
• Consider using tuples for multiple return values
• Group related helper methods together

Implementation Approach

• Extract helper methods before refactoring the main flow
• Test incrementally to ensure no regressions
• Use meaningful names that describe the extracted responsibility
• Keep extracted methods close to where they're used
• Consider making repeated code patterns into generic methods

Result

The refactored method should:

• Have cognitive complexity reduced to the target threshold of ${input:complexityThreshold} or below
• Be more readable and maintainable
• Have clear separation of concerns
• Be easier to test and debug
• Retain all original functionality

Testing and Validation

CRITICAL: After completing the refactoring, you MUST:

1. Run all existing tests related to the refactored method and its surrounding functionality
2. MANDATORY: Explicitly verify test results show "failed=0"

• NEVER assume tests passed - always examine the actual test output
• Search for the summary line containing pass/fail counts (e.g., "passed=X failed=Y")
• If the summary shows any number other than "failed=0", tests have FAILED
• If test output is in a file, read the entire file to locate and verify the failure count
• Running tests is NOT the same as verifying tests passed
• Do not proceed until you have explicitly confirmed zero failures

1. If any tests fail (failed > 0):

• State clearly how many tests failed
• Analyze each failure to understand what functionality was broken
• Common causes: null handling, empty collection checks, condition logic errors
• Identify the root cause in the refactored code
• Correct the refactored code to restore the original behavior
• Re-run tests and verify "failed=0" in the output
• Repeat until all tests pass (failed=0)

1. Verify compilation - Ensure there are no compilation errors
2. Check cognitive complexity - Confirm the metric is at or below the target threshold of ${input:complexityThreshold}

Confirmation Checklist

• [ ] Code compiles without errors
• [ ] Test results explicitly state "failed=0" (verified by reading the output)
• [ ] All test failures analyzed and corrected (if any occurred)
• [ ] Cognitive complexity is at or below the target threshold of ${input:complexityThreshold}
• [ ] All original functionality is preserved
• [ ] Code follows project conventions and standards