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name: enforce-file-limits description: Enforce 500-line file size limits. Warn at 400 lines. Guide splitting large files into focused modules. Apply when writing or editing code.

File Size Limits Enforcement

CRITICAL: All files MUST stay under 500 lines. This is NON-NEGOTIABLE.

Why This Exists

Large files are:

• Hard to navigate
• Hard to test
• Hard to maintain
• Easy to violate Single Responsibility Principle

When to Apply

Use this skill when:

• Creating new files
• Editing existing files
• Reviewing code
• Splitting large files

How It Works

Line Limits

• Hard limit: 500 lines (WILL BE REJECTED)
• Warning threshold: 400 lines (PLAN TO SPLIT)
• Optimal range: 200-300 lines

What Counts as Lines

Count EVERYTHING:

• Code lines
• Comment lines (including block comments)
• Blank lines
• Import statements
• Type definitions

The only exception: File header comments (first 1-5 lines describing the file).

Checking Current File Size

Before editing, check line count:

wc -l path/to/file.ts

If output shows > 400 lines, plan to split BEFORE adding more code.

Splitting Strategies

1. Extract Utilities

// ❌ BEFORE: UserService.ts (550 lines)
class UserService {
  validateEmail() { /* 50 lines */ }
  hashPassword() { /* 50 lines */ }
  generateToken() { /* 50 lines */ }
  createUser() { /* 400 lines */ }
}

// ✅ AFTER: Split utilities
// utils/userValidation.ts (50 lines)
export function validateEmail() {}

// utils/passwordUtils.ts (50 lines)
export function hashPassword() {}

// utils/tokenGenerator.ts (50 lines)
export function generateToken() {}

// UserService.ts (400 lines)
class UserService {
  createUser() { /* uses imported utilities */ }
}

2. Extract Sub-Services

// ❌ BEFORE: UserService.ts (600 lines)
class UserService {
  // User CRUD (200 lines)
  // Password management (200 lines)
  // Profile management (200 lines)
}

// ✅ AFTER: Split by domain
// UserService.ts (200 lines)
// UserPasswordService.ts (200 lines)
// UserProfileService.ts (200 lines)

3. Extract Component Logic

// ❌ BEFORE: Dashboard.tsx (550 lines)
export function Dashboard() {
  // State management (100 lines)
  // Data fetching logic (100 lines)
  // Event handlers (100 lines)
  // Render multiple sections (250 lines)
}

// ✅ AFTER: Split into focused components
// Dashboard.tsx (200 lines) - main component
// hooks/useDashboardData.ts (100 lines) - data fetching
// components/DashboardStats.tsx (150 lines)
// components/DashboardCharts.tsx (150 lines)

When File Approaching 400 Lines

STOP and plan extraction BEFORE adding more code:

1. Identify logical boundaries (utilities, sub-domains, components)
2. Create new files with descriptive names
3. Move code to new files
4. Update imports
5. Verify tests still pass

Handling Large Files in Codebase

If you encounter a file > 500 lines:

1. Flag it immediately: "⚠️ This file exceeds 500 lines and needs refactoring"
2. If editing: Plan split BEFORE making changes
3. If creating new feature: Don't add to large files - create new focused files instead

Examples

Good: Properly Sized Files

src/features/auth/
├── services/
│   ├── AuthService.ts (280 lines) ✅
│   ├── TokenService.ts (180 lines) ✅
│   └── PasswordResetService.ts (220 lines) ✅

Bad: Oversized Files

src/features/auth/
└── services/
    └── AuthService.ts (850 lines) ❌ MUST SPLIT!

Refactoring Large Files

// BEFORE: AuthService.ts (850 lines) ❌
class AuthService {
  // Login logic (200 lines)
  // Registration logic (200 lines)
  // Password reset logic (200 lines)
  // Token management (150 lines)
  // Email verification (100 lines)
}

// AFTER: Split into focused services ✅
// AuthService.ts (200 lines)
class AuthService {
  login() {}
  logout() {}
}

// RegistrationService.ts (200 lines)
class RegistrationService {
  register() {}
  verifyEmail() {}
}

// PasswordService.ts (200 lines)
class PasswordService {
  resetPassword() {}
  changePassword() {}
}

// TokenService.ts (150 lines)
class TokenService {
  generateToken() {}
  validateToken() {}
  refreshToken() {}
}

Enforcement

The code-quality-auditor will:

• ✅ Check file line counts
• ✅ Reject files > 500 lines
• ✅ Warn on files > 400 lines
• ✅ Suggest split strategies

Quick Checklist

• File is under 500 lines (hard limit)
• File is under 400 lines (warning threshold)
• If approaching 400, plan extraction
• Large files have been split before editing
• New code added to focused files, not large files