Pre-Modification Check with Repowise

Before modifying files in a Repowise-indexed codebase, assess the impact.

Before editing a file

Call get_risk(targets=["path/to/file.py"]) to understand:

• Hotspot status — is this a high-churn file? Extra care needed.
• Dependents — what other files/modules depend on this? How wide is the blast radius?
• Co-change partners — what files typically change together with this one? You may need to update them too.
• Ownership — who owns this code? Relevant for PR review routing.
• Bus factor — if only 1 person owns this, changes need extra review.

When modifying multiple files

Batch all targets into one call: get_risk(targets=["file1.py", "file2.py", "module/"]).

When to warn the user

If get_risk shows:

• Hotspot score above 90th percentile — mention this is a frequently-changed, high-risk file
• More than 10 dependents — list the top dependents; API changes here will break consumers
• Bus factor of 1 — note that a single person maintains this code
• Risk type is "bug-prone" or "high-coupling" — flag explicitly before making changes

Before refactoring or moving code

Call get_context(targets=["file.py"]) first to understand the full context: what uses this file, what decisions govern it, and why it's structured this way. This prevents accidentally violating architectural decisions.

Error handling

If get_risk returns a tool error, the MCP server may not be running. Proceed with the modification but note that risk assessment was unavailable.