Refactoring is nothing less than an intervention in the code base of systems, which can create stability or generate new risks. The right approach is therefore crucial. IT service provider Avision summarises the most important steps for successful surgery on live code.
In practice, refactoring is much more than a purely technical measure. For improvements to the code base to have a long-term effect, a clear understanding of goals, limitations and processes is required. Based on many years of project experience, Avision has summarised the principles that are important and how refactoring can be integrated into everyday development in a structured manner:
1. Set clear limits and proceed step by step
Refactoring should be deliberately limited and controlled. Instead of large-scale changes, clearly defined, smaller changes that can be verified are crucial. In practice, a step-by-step approach with small commits has proven successful, allowing adjustments to be tested and traced directly. It is equally important to clearly define the scope: Which areas should be optimised and which should not? Without these boundaries, there is a risk that the refactoring project will get out of hand. This not only leads to increasing complexity, but also jeopardises schedules and acceptance within the team.
2. Introduce a comprehensive testing concept
Tests are not a nice-to-have, but a central prerequisite for refactoring to be responsible in the first place. Practical experience has shown that companies benefit from creating tests before the actual refactoring in order to safeguard the existing behaviour of the software. Only this basis makes it possible to see whether changes unintentionally alter functionality. Depending on the criticality of the code area, different types of tests can be considered, with unit tests, integration tests and end-to-end tests being particularly important.
3. Understanding refactoring as a process
Refactoring is most effective when it is not seen as a one-off large-scale project, but as an integral part of continuous software development. This prevents technical debt from accumulating over years and eventually becoming impossible to reduce without considerable effort. A proven approach is to leave the code a little better than you found it with every change. However, if refactoring has been neglected for a long time, a purely incremental approach is often not enough. In such cases, it makes sense to plan additional phases, such as technical sprints or dedicated projects to reduce technical debt.
4. Use AI only in a targeted manner
Artificial intelligence can effectively support refactoring when used deliberately. AI is particularly helpful when it relieves developers of clearly defined tasks, such as creating unit tests, restructuring methods or reducing code duplication. Less effective is the attempt to have large areas of code or entire applications completely optimised by AI using a refactoring approach. Especially in the case of mature legacy systems, technical evaluation by specialists and developers remains indispensable. AI is therefore not effective as an autopilot, but as a supporting tool. Humans remain responsible for architecture, logic and quality.
‘Refactoring is a necessary investment in the future viability of software,’ says Nadine Riederer, Managing Director at Avision. ‘It’s about systematically cleaning up your own code and modernising it in a meaningful way before real problems arise. Sure, refactoring takes time and usually doesn’t deliver any exciting new features. But it creates the basis for further developing software in a stable manner, avoiding technical debt and reliably implementing new requirements.’
This press release is also available at www.pr-com.de/de/avision.
Pressekontakt
Avision GmbH
Christina Karl
Marketing
Bajuwarenring 14
D-82041 Oberhaching
Phone +49-89-623037-967
christina.karl@avision-it.de
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