code-refactor-for-reproducibility

---
name: code-refactor-for-reproducibility
description: Use when refactoring research code for publication, adding documentation to existing analysis scripts, creating reproducible computational workflows, or preparing code for sharing with collaborators. Transforms research code into publication-ready, reproducible workflows. Adds documentation, implements error handling, creates environment specifications, and ensures computational reproducibility for scientific publications.
license: MIT
author: aipoch
---
> **Source**: [https://github.com/aipoch/medical-research-skills](https://github.com/aipoch/medical-research-skills)
# Research Code Reproducibility Refactoring Tool

## When to Use

- Use this skill when the task needs Use when refactoring research code for publication, adding documentation to existing analysis scripts, creating reproducible computational workflows, or preparing code for sharing with collaborators. Transforms research code into publication-ready, reproducible workflows. Adds documentation, implements error handling, creates environment specifications, and ensures computational reproducibility for scientific publications.
- Use this skill for data analysis tasks that require explicit assumptions, bounded scope, and a reproducible output format.
- Use this skill when you need a documented fallback path for missing inputs, execution errors, or partial evidence.

## Key Features

- Scope-focused workflow aligned to: Use when refactoring research code for publication, adding documentation to existing analysis scripts, creating reproducible computational workflows, or preparing code for sharing with collaborators. Transforms research code into publication-ready, reproducible workflows. Adds documentation, implements error handling, creates environment specifications, and ensures computational reproducibility for scientific publications.
- Packaged executable path(s): `scripts/main.py`.
- Structured execution path designed to keep outputs consistent and reviewable.

## Dependencies

- `Python`: `3.10+`. Repository baseline for current packaged skills.
- `numpy`: `unspecified`. Declared in `requirements.txt`.
- `pandas`: `unspecified`. Declared in `requirements.txt`.
- `pytest`: `unspecified`. Declared in `requirements.txt`.
- `scipy`: `unspecified`. Declared in `requirements.txt`.
- `src`: `unspecified`. Declared in `requirements.txt`.

## Example Usage

```bash
cd "20260318/scientific-skills/Data Analytics/code-refactor-for-reproducibility"
python -m py_compile scripts/main.py
python scripts/main.py --help
```

Example run plan:
1. Confirm the user input, output path, and any required config values.
2. Edit the in-file `CONFIG` block or documented parameters if the script uses fixed settings.
3. Run `python scripts/main.py` with the validated inputs.
4. Review the generated output and return the final artifact with any assumptions called out.

## Implementation Details

See `## Workflow` above for related details.

- Execution model: validate the request, choose the packaged workflow, and produce a bounded deliverable.
- Input controls: confirm the source files, scope limits, output format, and acceptance criteria before running any script.
- Primary implementation surface: `scripts/main.py`.
- Parameters to clarify first: input path, output path, scope filters, thresholds, and any domain-specific constraints.
- Output discipline: keep results reproducible, identify assumptions explicitly, and avoid undocumented side effects.

## Quick Check

Use this command to verify that the packaged script entry point can be parsed before deeper execution.

```bash
python -m py_compile scripts/main.py
```

## Audit-Ready Commands

Use these concrete commands for validation. They are intentionally self-contained and avoid placeholder paths.

```bash
python -m py_compile scripts/main.py
python scripts/main.py --help
```

## Workflow

1. Confirm the user objective, required inputs, and non-negotiable constraints before doing detailed work.
2. Validate that the request matches the documented scope and stop early if the task would require unsupported assumptions.
3. Use the packaged script path or the documented reasoning path with only the inputs that are actually available.
4. Return a structured result that separates assumptions, deliverables, risks, and unresolved items.
5. If execution fails or inputs are incomplete, switch to the fallback path and state exactly what blocked full completion.

## Workflow Overview

Follow this sequence when refactoring a research codebase:

1. **Analyze** — identify reproducibility issues in existing code
2. **Refactor** — apply documentation, parameterization, and error handling
3. **Specify environment** — pin dependencies and create environment files
4. **Validate** — run tests and verify behaviour is unchanged

---

## Step 1: Analyze Code for Reproducibility Issues

Read each source file and check for the following problems. Document findings before making any changes.

**Checklist:** missing docstrings · hardcoded absolute paths · missing random seeds · bare `except:` clauses · unpinned imports · unexplained magic numbers

**Example — detecting issues manually:**

```python
import ast, pathlib

def find_hardcoded_paths(source: str) -> list[str]:
    """Return string literals that look like absolute paths."""
    tree = ast.parse(source)
    return [
        node.s for node in ast.walk(tree)
        if isinstance(node, ast.Constant)
        and isinstance(node.s, str)
        and node.s.startswith("/")
    ]

source = pathlib.Path("analysis.py").read_text()
print(find_hardcoded_paths(source))
```

---

## Step 2: Refactor for Best Practices

Apply improvements in place. Always back up originals first.

### 2a. Add docstrings

```python

# Before
def load_data(path):
    import pandas as pd
    return pd.read_csv(path)

# After
def load_data(path: str) -> "pd.DataFrame":
    """Load a CSV dataset from disk.

    Parameters
    ----------
    path : str
        Path to the CSV file (relative to project root).

    Returns
    -------
    pd.DataFrame
        Raw dataset with original column names preserved.
    """
    import pandas as pd
    return pd.read_csv(path)
```

### 2b. Parameterize hardcoded values

```python
from pathlib import Path
import argparse

def parse_args():
    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser()
    parser.add_argument("--data", type=Path, default=Path("data/raw.csv"))
    parser.add_argument("--output", type=Path, default=Path("results/"))
    return parser.parse_args()

args = parse_args()
df = pd.read_csv(args.data)
args.output.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
```

### 2c. Set random seeds

```python
import random
import numpy as np

SEED = 42  # document this constant at module level

random.seed(SEED)
np.random.seed(SEED)

# scikit-learn
from sklearn.ensemble import RandomForestClassifier
clf = RandomForestClassifier(random_state=SEED)

# PyTorch
import torch
torch.manual_seed(SEED)
torch.backends.cudnn.deterministic = True
```

### 2d. Add error handling and logging

```python
import logging
from pathlib import Path

logging.basicConfig(level=logging.INFO, format="%(asctime)s [%(levelname)s] %(message)s")
logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)

def load_data(path: Path) -> "pd.DataFrame":
    """Load dataset with validation."""
    import pandas as pd
    if not path.exists():
        raise FileNotFoundError(f"Data file not found: {path}")
    logger.info("Loading data from %s", path)
    df = pd.read_csv(path)
    if df.empty:
        raise ValueError(f"Loaded dataframe is empty: {path}")
    logger.info("Loaded %d rows, %d columns", *df.shape)
    return df
```

---

## Step 3: Generate Environment Specifications

See `references/environment-setup.md` for full Dockerfile and Conda environment templates.

### requirements.txt (pip)

```text
pip install pipreqs
pipreqs src/ --output requirements.txt --force
```

Verify resolution:
```text
python -m venv .venv_test && source .venv_test/bin/activate
pip install -r requirements.txt
python -c "import pandas, numpy, sklearn"
deactivate && rm -rf .venv_test
```

### environment.yml (Conda)

```yaml
name: my-research-env
channels:
  - conda-forge
  - defaults
dependencies:
  - python=3.9
  - numpy=1.24.3
  - pandas=2.0.1
  - scikit-learn=1.2.2
  - matplotlib=3.7.1
  - pip:
    - some-pip-only-package==0.5.0
```

```text
conda env create -f environment.yml
conda activate my-research-env
```

---

## Step 4: Create Documentation

### README structure

Generate a `README.md` containing at minimum:

```markdown

## Requirements
<!-- List Python version and key packages with versions -->

## Installation
```text
conda env create -f environment.yml
conda activate my-research-env
```

## Data
<!-- Describe input data format, source, and where to place files -->

## Running the Analysis
```text
python main.py --data data/raw.csv --output results/
```

## Expected Outputs
<!-- Describe files created and how to interpret them -->

## Reproducing Results
- Random seed: 42 (set in `config.py`)
- Hardware: results validated on CPU; GPU results may differ slightly
```

---

## Step 5: Validate Reproducibility

After all changes, verify that behaviour is unchanged:

```text

# 1. Run the full pipeline and capture output checksums
python main.py --data data/raw.csv --output results/
md5sum results/*.csv > checksums_refactored.md5
diff checksums_original.md5 checksums_refactored.md5

# 2. Run unit tests
pytest tests/ -v --tb=short

# 3. Confirm determinism across two clean runs
python main.py --output results_run1/
python main.py --output results_run2/
diff -r results_run1/ results_run2/
```

**Reproducibility verification checklist:**
- [ ] Output checksums match pre-refactor baseline
- [ ] All tests pass
- [ ] Pipeline runs twice and produces identical outputs
- [ ] `requirements.txt` / `environment.yml` installs cleanly in a fresh environment
- [ ] No absolute paths remain in source files
- [ ] Random seeds are set and documented
- [ ] All public functions have docstrings
- [ ] README contains complete reproduction instructions

---

## Best Practices Summary

| Practice |
|---|
| Relative paths only |
| Pin dependency versions |
| Set random seeds |
| Docstrings on all public functions |
| Validate outputs against a baseline |
| Automate environment setup |

## References

- `references/guide.md` — Comprehensive user guide
- `references/environment-setup.md` — Dockerfile and full environment templates
- `references/examples/` — Working code examples
- `references/api-docs/` — Complete API documentation

---

**Skill ID**: 455 | **Version**: 1.0 | **License**: MIT

## Output Requirements

Every final response should make these items explicit when they are relevant:

- Objective or requested deliverable
- Inputs used and assumptions introduced
- Workflow or decision path
- Core result, recommendation, or artifact
- Constraints, risks, caveats, or validation needs
- Unresolved items and next-step checks

## Error Handling

- If required inputs are missing, state exactly which fields are missing and request only the minimum additional information.
- If the task goes outside the documented scope, stop instead of guessing or silently widening the assignment.
- If `scripts/main.py` fails, report the failure point, summarize what still can be completed safely, and provide a manual fallback.
- Do not fabricate files, citations, data, search results, or execution outcomes.

## Input Validation

This skill accepts requests that match the documented purpose of `code-refactor-for-reproducibility` and include enough context to complete the workflow safely.

Do not continue the workflow when the request is out of scope, missing a critical input, or would require unsupported assumptions. Instead respond:

> `code-refactor-for-reproducibility` only handles its documented workflow. Please provide the missing required inputs or switch to a more suitable skill.

## Response Template

Use the following fixed structure for non-trivial requests:

1. Objective
2. Inputs Received
3. Assumptions
4. Workflow
5. Deliverable
6. Risks and Limits
7. Next Checks

If the request is simple, you may compress the structure, but still keep assumptions and limits explicit when they affect correctness.