dead-code

Dead Code Removal

Find and remove code added in the current branch that is never actually used.

Workflow

1. Get the diff: git diff master...HEAD --name-only to find changed files
2. For each changed file, identify newly added exports:
   • Functions, classes, constants, types
   • Controllers, services, SDK functions, API endpoints
   • React components, hooks, utilities
3. Search the codebase for references to each new export
4. Flag exports with zero references (excluding their own definition and re-exports)
5. Remove confirmed dead code or report findings

What to Look For

Backend dead code

• Controllers with no routes pointing to them
• Service methods never called by controllers or other services
• SDK/API client functions never imported in frontend
• Middleware not registered in any route
• Database models with no queries

Frontend dead code

• Components never rendered or imported
• Hooks never called
• Utility functions never imported
• Context providers never used
• Redux actions/selectors with no dispatch/useSelector calls

Shared dead code

• Types/interfaces never referenced
• Constants never imported
• Exported functions only used internally (should not be exported)

Search Strategy

For each new export ExportName:

1. Grep for import statements: import.*ExportName or require.*ExportName
2. Grep for direct usage: ExportName( or <ExportName or .ExportName
3. Check barrel files (index.ts) for re-exports
4. Exclude the file where it's defined from results

An export is dead if:

• Zero imports outside its own file
• Zero usages outside its own file
• Not re-exported from a public API barrel

Guidelines

• Only analyze code added in the current branch (not pre-existing code)
• Be careful with dynamically referenced code (string-based imports, reflection)
• Check for indirect usage through barrel files and re-exports
• When uncertain, report as "potentially unused" rather than auto-deleting
• Preserve code that's part of a public API even if unused internally
• Report a summary: number of dead exports found, files affected, bytes removed