Refactoring legacy code refers to the process of improving the design and structure of existing code, without changing its external behavior.
This can include tasks such as:
☑ Removing duplicate or redundant code
☑ Extracting reusable components
☑ Simplifying complex logic
☑ Renaming variables and functions to be more descriptive
☑ Removing dead or commented-out code
☑ Adding tests to ensure the code functions as intended
Here are a few examples of refactoring legacy code:
☑ Extracting a Method: A large function that performs multiple distinct tasks can be refactored by extracting each task into its own method, making the code more readable and easier to understand.
☑ Removing Duplicate Code: Two or more blocks of code that perform the same task can be refactored by extracting the common logic into a single method, which can then be reused.
☑ Simplifying Conditional Logic: A complex if-else or switch statement can be refactored by breaking it down into smaller, more manageable chunks of code.
☑ Renaming Variables: Variables with unclear or misleading names can be refactored by renaming them to be more descriptive, making it easier to understand the code.
☑ Adding Tests: Adding tests to legacy code can help to ensure that changes made during refactoring don't break existing functionality.
These are just a few examples, and the specific refactoring steps will depend on the codebase and the goals of the refactoring. Using the AppRefactoring tool helps with source code analysis and identifying overlaps and duplicates in software projects. It greatly simplifies process of refactoring legacy code.