Evolutionary Naming
Overview
Naming is a process, not a single step. Names evolve through 7 progressive steps grouped into 3 phases. Match the depth of work to the user's actual story — don't run the full pipeline every time.
Based on Arlo Belshee's "Naming as a Process" (CC BY 3.0). Updated edition: digdeeproots.com.
The Three Phases
| Phase | Steps | Nature |
|---|---|---|
| Phase 1: Insight → Name | Missing → Nonsense → Honest → Honest and Complete | Universal. Pure naming. No structural change. Safe to walk continuously. |
| Phase 2: Name → Structure | Honest and Complete → Does the Right Thing | Codebase-specific. Requires structural refactoring. Ask permission. |
| Phase 3: Combine for Design | Does the Right Thing → Intent → Domain Abstraction | Requires reading call sites and domain context. Ask permission. |
Choose Your Mode
This skill operates in two modes. Pick the one that matches the user's request.
| User signal | Mode | File |
|---|---|---|
Specific identifier named ("d を改善", "DocumentManager をどうにか", "this method") | improve-mode | improve-mode.md |
| One clear target inside a code block + "リファクタリング" / "改善" | improve-mode | improve-mode.md |
| "全体の命名を見直したい", "改善余地ある?", "命名レビュー", "scan", "audit", "リストだけほしい" | audit-mode | audit-mode.md |
| Audit followup: "X だけ直して" after audit output | improve-mode (target = X) | improve-mode.md |
| Ambiguous (large code paste, no specific target, no "全体" language) | Ask the user: "全体を監査しますか、特定の識別子を改善しますか?" |
Mode = audit: Read audit-mode.md. Produce a structured table of all naming opportunities. Do not execute changes.
Mode = improve: Read improve-mode.md. Walk one identifier through phase transitions. Pause at phase boundaries.
Both modes share diagnostic criteria, transition mechanics, and red flags from reference.md.
When to Stop (improve-mode depth signals)
| User signal | Stop at |
|---|---|
| "急いでる" / "bug fix" / "とりあえず" | Honest (mid Phase 1) |
| "改善して" / generic rename | Honest and Complete (end of Phase 1) |
| "リファクタリング" | Does the Right Thing (Phase 2) |
| "設計から見直したい" / "ドメイン的に整理" | Intent or Domain Abstraction (Phase 3) |
"You take the minimum steps to get the name to meet your need for the current story." — leaving names incomplete for colleagues to extend is a feature, not a flaw.
Files in This Skill
SKILL.md— this file. Router and overview.reference.md— shared 7-step diagnosis table, transitions, red flags, applesauce/probably_/AndStuff guidance.audit-mode.md— exhaustive scan workflow + output template.improve-mode.md— interactive single-target workflow + pause protocol.
Read the mode file you selected, plus reference.md for diagnosis details.