How do I refactor a Three.js module without breaking existing scenes?

Atlas uses `lsp findReferences` to identify all callsites of your Three.js module's exports before any changes, ensuring you account for every usage across your scenes and components.

Can Atlas help me ensure my Three.js refactor doesn't introduce memory leaks?

Yes, Atlas can help add `dispose` paths for `THREE.Geometry`, `THREE.Material`, and `THREE.Texture` instances, preventing GPU memory leaks when unmounting Three.js scenes.

What testing tools does Atlas integrate with for Three.js projects?

Atlas integrates directly with `vitest` via the `bash` tool, allowing you to run `npm test` and verify Three.js module behavior after each refactoring step.

How does Atlas prevent accidental changes to my Three.js codebase?

Atlas uses `apply_patch` which anchors on context lines and fails if the file has drifted. Every edit is presented as a unified diff for your approval before writing to your Three.js files.

Can Atlas help optimize Three.js performance during a refactor?

Yes, Atlas can identify and move per-frame object allocations, like `THREE.Vector3` instances, out of your `requestAnimationFrame` loop into reusable instances to improve Three.js rendering performance.

How does Atlas handle code formatting in Three.js projects?

Atlas can run `prettier` via the `bash` tool, for example, `npm run format`, to automatically format your Three.js code changes and maintain consistent style across your project.

What if my Three.js project uses custom GLSL shaders?

Atlas can read your GLSL inline as shader strings, understanding their context within your Three.js materials and helping with refactoring related JavaScript code that interacts with them.

Refactor a legacy Three.js module with Atlas in 2026

Atlas empowers Three.js developers in 2026 to restructure legacy modules without altering behavior or breaking callers by leveraging its `lsp` tool to map public surfaces, `bash` to run `vitest` for behavior pinning, and `apply_patch` for precise, context-aware code modifications, all while integrating with `npm` and `prettier` for a direct workflow.

How to map a Three.js module's public surface and callsites with Atlas

To safely refactor a Three.js module in 2026, Atlas first maps its public surface and enumerates every callsite. This process ensures that 100% of external dependencies on your module are identified before any code changes begin, preventing silent breakage.

Atlas uses its `lsp` tool to interact with the Language Server Protocol, allowing it to understand the structure of your Three.js codebase. By invoking `lsp documentSymbol` on a specific Three.js module file, Atlas can identify all exported classes, functions, and variables, such as `THREE.Mesh` or custom `Material` definitions. Once the public surface is mapped, Atlas then performs `lsp findReferences` on each identified symbol. This operation scans your entire project, including `package.json` defined dependencies, to locate every single instance where these symbols are used. This comprehensive mapping ensures that when you begin restructuring, you have a complete list of all callers that might need migration, preventing unexpected runtime errors in your Three.js scenes.

How to pin Three.js module behavior with `vitest` before refactoring

Before any refactoring of a Three.js module, Atlas ensures behavior is pinned by running existing tests with `vitest`. This establishes a green baseline, guaranteeing that your module's functionality remains 100% consistent throughout the restructuring process, with zero regressions.

The critical first step in any safe refactor is to establish a reliable behavioral baseline. Atlas achieves this by using its `bash` tool to execute your project's test suite. For Three.js projects, this typically means running `npm test`, which in 2026 often invokes `vitest`. Atlas will run these tests and record their output, confirming that all existing functionality works as expected. This 'green baseline' serves as a contract: any subsequent changes to the module must result in the same passing test suite. This approach, leveraging `vitest`'s speed and your existing `vitest.config.js` setup, provides immediate feedback and confidence that your refactoring efforts are not introducing unintended side effects or breaking existing Three.js scene logic.

How Atlas applies structural changes to Three.js code safely

Atlas applies structural changes to Three.js code with high precision using its `apply_patch` tool. This tool anchors on context lines, ensuring that changes are applied only if the file's content matches the expected state, preventing accidental modifications to drifted files 100% of the time.

When it's time to restructure your Three.js module, Atlas employs the `apply_patch` tool. Unlike simple find-and-replace, `apply_patch` is designed for robust, context-aware modifications. Each 'hunk' of a patch includes not only the lines to be changed but also surrounding 'context lines'. If the file on disk has diverged from the expected context (e.g., due to concurrent edits), `apply_patch` will fail with a 'Failed to find context' error, preventing a potentially destructive change. This mechanism is crucial for maintaining the integrity of complex Three.js files, such as those defining custom geometries or materials. After each significant hunk or set of changes lands, Atlas immediately re-runs your `vitest` suite via `npm test` using the `bash` tool, providing continuous verification that the refactor is on track and hasn't introduced any regressions. Atlas also integrates with `prettier` to ensure all changes adhere to your project's formatting standards, which can be triggered via `npm run format`.

How to track Three.js refactoring progress and ensure no regressions

Tracking refactoring progress in a Three.js project is crucial, and Atlas facilitates this with its `todowrite` tool and continuous `vitest` verification. This ensures that all 0 remaining callsites are migrated and that the module's behavior remains consistent throughout the entire process in 2026.

As you refactor a Three.js module, especially one with many callers, it's easy to lose track of remaining migration tasks. Atlas addresses this with its `todowrite` tool, allowing you to create a persistent list of callsites that still need attention. This prevents a partially migrated module from being mistaken for a finished one. Furthermore, Atlas maintains a rigorous safety net: after every modification, it prompts you to re-run your `vitest` suite using `npm test` via the `bash` tool. This continuous integration of testing ensures that any behavioral regressions are caught immediately. Atlas also computes a unified diff for every file edit, presenting it for your approval before writing, and can snapshot file changes as `git` patches, allowing for easy diffing and rollback. This comprehensive approach ensures that your Three.js refactor is not only effective but also completely safe and verifiable.

Step by step

01Initialize Atlas in your Three.js project, ensuring `package.json` lists `three` and `vitest` is configured for testing.
02Map the public surface of your legacy Three.js module: `atlas lsp documentSymbol src/legacyModule.js` to identify exports like `MyCustomGeometry`.
03Enumerate all callsites for each exported symbol: `atlas lsp findReferences src/legacyModule.js:MyCustomGeometry` to find every usage across your project.
04Pin the current behavior by running your Three.js test suite: `atlas bash "npm test"` to execute `vitest` and record a green baseline.
05Allow Atlas to draft a refactoring plan in its read-only plan agent, proposing structural changes to your Three.js module.
06Approve and apply structural changes using `apply_patch`, for example, moving `THREE.Vector3` allocations out of a render loop.
07After each significant change, re-run your tests: `atlas bash "npm test"` to verify that `vitest` still passes and no Three.js behavior is broken.
08Track remaining callsite migrations: `atlas todowrite "Migrate callsite for MyCustomMaterial in sceneRenderer.js"` to ensure all usages are updated.
09Review the unified diff for all file edits, approve changes, and let Atlas stage and commit your refactored Three.js code.
10Ensure consistent code style by running your formatter: `atlas bash "npm run format"` which typically invokes `prettier`.

Frequently asked questions

How do I refactor a Three.js module without breaking existing scenes?: Atlas uses `lsp findReferences` to identify all callsites of your Three.js module's exports before any changes, ensuring you account for every usage across your scenes and components.
Can Atlas help me ensure my Three.js refactor doesn't introduce memory leaks?: Yes, Atlas can help add `dispose` paths for `THREE.Geometry`, `THREE.Material`, and `THREE.Texture` instances, preventing GPU memory leaks when unmounting Three.js scenes.
What testing tools does Atlas integrate with for Three.js projects?: Atlas integrates directly with `vitest` via the `bash` tool, allowing you to run `npm test` and verify Three.js module behavior after each refactoring step.
How does Atlas prevent accidental changes to my Three.js codebase?: Atlas uses `apply_patch` which anchors on context lines and fails if the file has drifted. Every edit is presented as a unified diff for your approval before writing to your Three.js files.
Can Atlas help optimize Three.js performance during a refactor?: Yes, Atlas can identify and move per-frame object allocations, like `THREE.Vector3` instances, out of your `requestAnimationFrame` loop into reusable instances to improve Three.js rendering performance.
How does Atlas handle code formatting in Three.js projects?: Atlas can run `prettier` via the `bash` tool, for example, `npm run format`, to automatically format your Three.js code changes and maintain consistent style across your project.
What if my Three.js project uses custom GLSL shaders?: Atlas can read your GLSL inline as shader strings, understanding their context within your Three.js materials and helping with refactoring related JavaScript code that interacts with them.

Try Atlas in your terminal

The terminal-native AI coding agent. Free core, single binary.

Install Atlas

Related guides

Refactor a Legacy Module with Atlas in 2026

How to refactor a legacy module with Atlas in 2026: findReferences maps every callsite, apply_patch refuses to apply against a drifted file, and bash proves behavior.

Atlas for Three.js: Terminal-Native AI Coding for Scenes, Materials, and Disposal in 2026

Atlas is a terminal-native AI coding agent for Three.js in 2026, where geometry, material, and texture disposal is the difference between a demo and a leak.

Upgrade a Three.js Dependency and Fix Breakage with Atlas in 2026

In 2026, Atlas helps Three.js developers upgrade dependencies like 'three' itself, fixing compile and test failures by integrating with 'npm', 'vitest', and 'prettier'.

Rename a symbol across the repo in Three.js with Atlas in 2026

Refactor Three.js code with Atlas in 2026. Rename functions, classes, or constants across your entire repository, ensuring all references are updated, including those missed by `grep` alone. Atlas uses `lsp`, `grep`

Run the Three.js Test Suite and Triage Failures with Atlas in 2026

For Three.js developers in 2026, Atlas transforms overwhelming vitest output into a prioritized list of distinct root causes, streamlining debugging and ensuring robust scenes.

Extract a Shared Helper from Duplicated Code in Three.js with Atlas in 2026

Refactor your Three.js codebase in 2026 by extracting duplicated logic into a single, tested helper using Atlas. Prevent GPU memory leaks and improve performance.

Onboard to an Unfamiliar Three.js Codebase with Atlas in 2026

Quickly build a mental model of any Three.js repository in 2026 using Atlas. Leverage semantic search, file globbing, and read-only exploration to understand scene graphs, materials, and render loops without reading

Run Atlas Headless in CI for Three.js Projects in 2026

Automate Three.js code improvements in CI with Atlas. Run Atlas headless to fix memory leaks and optimize render loops, getting machine-readable output for vitest and prettier.

Browse this resource hub