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Refactoring is a powerful technique for improving existing software. Having source code that is understandable helps ensure a system is maintainable and extensible. This paper describes the refactoring process in general and some of the benefits of using automated tools to reliably enhance code quality by safely performing refactoring tasks.
When a system's source code is easily understandable, the system is more maintable, leading to reduced costs and allowing precious development resources to be used elsewhere. At the same time, if the code is well structured, new requirements can be introduced more efficiently and with less problems. These two development tasks, maintenance and enhancement, often conflict since new features, especially those that do not fit cleanly within the original design, result in an increased maintenance effort. The refactoring process aims to reduce this conflict, by aiding non destructive changes to the structure of the source code, in order to increase code clarity and maintainability.
However many developers and managers are hesitant to use refactoring. The most obvious reasons for this is the amount of effort required for even a minor change, and a fear of introducing bugs. Both of these problems can be solved by using an automated refactoring tool
Refactoring � an emerging software development activity
Who needs refactoring?
Software starts on a small scale, and most of it well-designed. Over time, software size and complexity increases, with that bugs creep in, and thus code reliability decreases. Software developers, particularly when they are not the original authors, are finding it increasingly difficult to maintain the code, and even harder to extend. The code base, which in any software company should be a valuable asset, at some point may become a liability.
What is needed to prevent the software from ageing prematurely? Strategically, attention of management and software developers is the most important factor. On the practical side, application of sound development methods will slow this ageing down. However refactoring can reverse this ageing when applied properly, preferably with good software tools that aid in the detection, analysis, and characterisation of the problems, and ultimately allow fixing them.
Well trained software developers who are intimately familiar with their code, are often acutely aware of the lurking code ageing problems. However, most developers would be reluctant to make changes to the structure of the code, especially if the changes may take some time. If developers find it easy to apply refactoring operations to their code, they will show less resistance to such restructuring work.
Rewriting a component is often seen as easier by the developer, or at least less confusing. The current source code may have changed over time from the original design, and may not be immediately clear to a developer who is seeing the code for the first time. Alternatively, the original developer may regret certain design decisions, and now believes there is a better way. However this ignores the fact that the source code has a lot of hidden value. The bug fixes contained in the source code, may not all be documented, however they are very valuable. The component has been previously tested thoroughly in the production environment, and this is not something that should be thrown away. Refactoring retains this hidden value, ensuring the behaviour of the system does not change.
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