Refactoring

Revising code to improve its structure without changing its behavior.

Also Known As

• Code Cleanup
• Code Optimization
• Creating Abstractions
• Factoring
• Modularisation
• Separation of Concerns
• Technical Debt Management

Related

• Coding
• Regression Testing
• Change Management
• Design

Addresses / Mitigates

• Complexity Risk: Refactoring is aimed at making code more orthogonal, less duplicative and clearer to understand
• Implementation Risk: Enhances code quality and maintainability.
• Communication Risk: Well-factored code should be easier to understand.

Attendant Risks

• Schedule Risk: Refactoring can be time-consuming and delay project timelines.
• Regression Risk: Done carelessly, refactoring can introduce new issues into the codebase

Used By

• Extreme Programming: XP encourages continuous refactoring to improve the design of existing code and maintain its quality.
• Scrum: Refactoring is encouraged to maintain code quality within Scrum.

Description

"Code refactoring is the process of restructuring existing computer code—changing the factoring—without changing its external behavior. Refactoring improves nonfunctional attributes of the software." - Code refactoring, Wikipedia

Refactoring involves revising and restructuring existing code to improve its readability, maintainability, and performance without changing its external behavior. This practice helps in reducing technical debt, enhancing code quality, and making the codebase easier to understand and modify.

Abstractions

Refactoring is all about ensuring you have the right abstractions.

"An abstraction" is the outcome of this process—a concept that acts as a common noun for all subordinate concepts and connects any related concepts as a group, field, or category.

See:

• Refactoring
• The Power of Abstractions
• Hierarchies and Modularisation

External References

• Separation of Concerns Wikipedia Page.
• Refactoring Book by Martin Fowler.

See Also

Extreme Programming

An Agile software development methodology that emphasizes customer satisfaction, teamwork, and frequent delivery of small, functional software increments.

Scrum

An Agile framework for managing and completing complex projects.

Coding Bets

How Coding, Investing and Gambling are similar undertakings.

Complexity Risk

A lot of advice around constructing software comes back to simplicity. Why?