https://github.com/kawasima/evolutionary-naming
Claude Code skill for evolutionary naming — improve names step-by-step through 3 phases (audit + improve modes)
https://github.com/kawasima/evolutionary-naming
claude-code claude-skill code-quality naming refactoring
Last synced: about 7 hours ago
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Claude Code skill for evolutionary naming — improve names step-by-step through 3 phases (audit + improve modes)
- Host: GitHub
- URL: https://github.com/kawasima/evolutionary-naming
- Owner: kawasima
- License: other
- Created: 2026-04-15T07:10:54.000Z (2 months ago)
- Default Branch: master
- Last Pushed: 2026-06-02T13:45:12.000Z (21 days ago)
- Last Synced: 2026-06-02T15:25:24.227Z (21 days ago)
- Topics: claude-code, claude-skill, code-quality, naming, refactoring
- Homepage: https://github.com/kawasima/evolutionary-naming
- Size: 33.2 KB
- Stars: 57
- Watchers: 0
- Forks: 2
- Open Issues: 0
-
Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
- License: LICENSE
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README
# evolutionary-naming
[](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
[](https://github.com/kawasima/evolutionary-naming/releases)
[](https://code.claude.com/docs/en/skills)
A Claude Code skill for **evolutionary naming** — improving names step-by-step through progressive refinement instead of trying to find the perfect name in one shot.
Naming is a process, not a single step. This skill walks names through 7 progressive steps grouped into 3 phases, with one commit per step, so improvements are safe, incremental, and reversible.
The skill is **advisory**: it reads code (Read/Grep/Glob) and proposes each rename plus the commit message you'd use — it doesn't edit files or run git. You apply the changes.
## What it does
| Phase | Steps | Nature |
|-------|-------|--------|
| Phase 1: Insight to Name | Missing → Nonsense → Honest → Honest and Complete | Universal. Pure naming. Safe. |
| Phase 2: Name to Structure | Honest and Complete → Does the Right Thing | Structural refactoring. Asks permission. |
| Phase 3: Combine for Design | Does the Right Thing → Intent → Domain Abstraction | Domain-level. Asks permission. |
The skill operates in two modes:
- **audit-mode** — exhaustive scan of provided code, classifies every identifier by its current step, outputs a structured table grouped by phase. Does not rename.
- **improve-mode** — interactive single-target improvement. Walks Phase 1 continuously, pauses before Phase 2 and Phase 3.
Match the depth of work to the user's actual story. Most naming improvements should stop after Phase 1.
## Installation
### Via marketplace (recommended)
```
/plugin marketplace add kawasima/evolutionary-naming
/plugin install evolutionary-naming@kawasima-skills
```
### Via [skills.sh](https://skills.sh/)
```bash
npx skills add kawasima/evolutionary-naming
```
### Manual install (single user)
```bash
git clone https://github.com/kawasima/evolutionary-naming.git
cp -r evolutionary-naming/skills/evolutionary-naming ~/.claude/skills/
```
Claude Code auto-discovers skills from `~/.claude/skills/`. No configuration required.
## Usage
The skill activates automatically when you ask Claude to improve naming, refactor a class/method, or review naming quality.
**Audit mode triggers:**
- "このコードの命名で改善余地ある?"
- "命名レビューして"
- "naming audit"
**Improve mode triggers:**
- "`d` を改善して"
- "DocumentManager をリファクタリング"
- "this method's name is unclear"
When the request is ambiguous (large code paste with no specific target), the skill asks which mode to use.
## Files
```
skills/evolutionary-naming/
├── SKILL.md router and overview
├── reference.md shared 7-step diagnosis, transitions, red flags
├── audit-mode.md exhaustive scan workflow + table output
└── improve-mode.md interactive single-target + pause protocol
```
## License
CC BY 4.0. See [LICENSE](./LICENSE).
## Background and Acknowledgments
The 7-step / 3-phase model used in this skill is based on Arlo Belshee's "Naming as a Process" series (CC BY 3.0), one of the most thorough public treatments of evolutionary naming. The skill adapts that material into Claude Code's skill format with audit/improve modes and phase-boundary safety gates.
References:
- Original blog series: https://arlobelshee.com/tag/naming-is-a-process
- Updated edition: https://www.digdeeproots.com/articles/naming-process/
Other influences worth exploring:
- Refactoring catalogs (extract method, rename, introduce parameter object) — Martin Fowler
- Domain-Driven Design (Whole Value, Ubiquitous Language) — Eric Evans