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Coding · Intermediate

# Semantic code refactoring across repositories

Inspect symbol hierarchies, trace references across files, and stage safe multi-file refactoring edits.

[Use with BotBento ](https://app.botbento.com/?ref=usecases&utm_source=botbento.com&utm_medium=usecases&utm_campaign=semantic-code-refactoring-across-repositories)Copy promptShare[Markdown](/text/usecases/semantic-code-refactoring-across-repositories/index.md)

Opens BotBento. Paste the prompt into a bot; nothing is preconfigured.

- When you askReceive refactor request
- ThenMap symbols and trace references
- ResultPresent staged edits for approval

Analyze codebase structures using symbol-level lookups rather than plain text search. The bot locates symbol declarations, maps call hierarchies, finds all references across multi-file repositories, and stages coherent edits for cross-file refactors and renames without breaking dependents.

## Prompt to start with

BotBentoRecommended

```
When asked to inspect or modify code, query language server symbols and trace references across the repository rather than relying on raw text pattern matches. Generate candidate edits for symbol renames, interface updates, or structural moves. Do not write changes to disk, delete files, or push commits without explicit user confirmation.
```

Copy

## Tools it uses

TerminalGitHub

## Works with

BotBento

## Tags

- refactoring
- codebase
- lsp
- developer-tools

## Source

[serena: A powerful MCP toolkit for coding, providing semantic retrieval and editing capabilities - the IDE for your agent](https://github.com/oraios/serena)
GitHub · checked 2026-10-15

Summarized in our own words. Any results described there are the authors’ own, not measured by BotBento.

By BotBento Editorial · Added 2026-10-15 · Updated 2026-10-15 · [Suggest a correction](/contact/)

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