Thinking of a piece of software code as something stable and unchanging is not quite the right philosophy. It might be easier to think of a development project as something with a conclusive end. However, the truth of the matter is that even after a program is deployed, it should be thought of as a dynamic evolving organism that will need regular updates and maintenance.
The bottom line is that a piece of software will need continuous attention so long as the program is relevant. How a company chooses to provide this attention may vary, and the process’s resulting ease and expense depends on this chosen route.
Some go about life with an “if it’s not broken, don’t fix it mentality.” There may be some comfort in this mentality, but it may lead to a few betrayals. If one doesn’t take the time to monitor their surroundings, then when an inevitable “break” occurs, it may come as a surprise, leading to an emergency that requires a lot of attention, time, and funds to fix.
On the other hand, if one invests the time for regular check-ups, adjustments, and reasonable changes, there will be fewer surprises, less rushing, and smaller financial investments. This approach is relevant with almost anything in life, one’s car, personal health, and even one’s code in a software project.
The philosophy that a piece of software will benefit from regular maintenance is the essence of code refactoring. This article aims to explain the role of code refactoring in software development.
Read on and learn:
- What does refactoring mean in software?
- What are the benefits of software refactoring?
- When should a code be refactored?
- What is the Refactoring Process Like?
- What are common Refactoring Techniques?
- Tizbi Refactoring Examples
What Does Refactoring Mean in Software?
As a program is written, it gets passed from programmer to programmer, all of whom take on the challenge with their own style and preferred libraries. The resulting program starts taking a shape more resembling Frankenstein’s monster than the neat, easily digestible code it was meant to be.
In these cases, it is crucial to perform a bit of clean-up before this disjointed code has a chance to break and cause unexpected, hard-to-fix problems.
According to Martin Fowler, the software developer credited with popularizing code refactoring, refactoring is the process of changing the internal structure of a code without altering any of a program’s outward features. An expert in software development and a proponent of the Agile approach, Fowler’s approach promises many innovations, including fewer bugs, greater efficiency, and less expensive maintenance in the future.
The point of code refactoring is about fixing a problem before it can occur. This proactive way of thinking allows for the elimination of code smell. Code smell is essentially any redundancy within a code that makes it longer and harder to manage, leading to less efficient programming.
Some project leaders may not fully comprehend the benefits of code refactoring as the program itself does not demonstrate any apparent changes as it runs. The point is about organizing a program behind the scenes to circumvent future bugs and breaks.
What are the benefits of software refactoring?
As expressed above, the benefits of software refactoring are not always obvious because refactoring is a proactive approach for preventing IT issues. However, while they are harder to notice, the benefits of this technique are enormous.
- Make everything easier: Cleaning up a code makes it easier to understand, catch bugs, and run new features.
- Clean up and build simultaneously: Refactoring allows the implementation of new features in tandem with clean-up of the old program.
- Remove code smell: Get rid of any lingering bad practices inserted in your code throughout the development.
- Improve customer experience: The code will operate smoother and generate quicker responses as it performs.
- Reduce Technical debt: An efficient and fresh code will save your company from future breaks and major expenses.
- Keeps your code relevant: Replace outdated libraries and elements with newer more relevant ones.
- Catch bugs: Refactoring makes it easier for a programmer to find the source of a problem, fix said problem, and prevent future breaks.
All software applications will require regular maintenance to optimize performance. Software refactoring is a form of legacy system modernization. Modernizing software enables a company to stay ahead of the game and keep a software program in peak condition. Applications with refactored code work faster, and improve customer usability.
When should a code be refactored?
Hopefully, we’ve convinced you of the gain of software refactoring. However, is there a time in a code’s lifecycle where it is more vital to practice refactoring?
Software becomes obsolete with time. This problem can become apparent when adding a new feature to a program written with a technique from years ago. In this case, a new feature isn’t going to work on a module written in an outdated coding language.
If this situation seems familiar, then your project is likely ready for software refactoring. In this case, choosing not to will likely lead to a messy development process that will take up comparably much more time and effort. The attempt to add a new feature to an unclean code is often more expensive and sometimes just impossible.
That’s not to say there aren’t any drawbacks to software refactoring. While this process is a great practice to maintain to keep things clean in-house, it is not guaranteed to solve all your code’s problems. Further, refactoring can be a time-consuming process.
As such, if your team needs to meet a specific deadline, we do not recommend refactoring at that moment. Sometimes it can be cheaper to rewrite a code entirely, especially if the original code is written on old/obsolete groundwork. Keep in mind that if you choose to rewrite a program entirely, then the features won’t stay the same as they would in the case of refactoring.
There are a few strategies besides refactoring you might consider, including but not limited to: redesign of the application, reimplementations, and rewrite of the code.
Contact Tizbi software experts today to figfure out the best solution for your needs.
What is the Refactoring Process Like?
The first step of the process is to decide whether refactoring is the right solution for your project. Here are some tells that it is time to refactor your software:
The above leads to an unmanageable code in which no new updates can be implemented, and a project as a whole will stall as a result.
Once you decide to move forward with refactoring, the next step of the venture is to create a plan. Analyze the intended system and identify which part of the code takes priority.
For a successful refactoring project, you need an experienced team of developers, support and understanding from management, time to accomplish this long-term project, and a flexible plan. Last but not least, refactoring requires constant testing and a thorough QA team.
Assemble your ideal refactoring team.
What are common Refactoring Techniques?
There are several possible approaches for heading a software refactoring project. It is essential to pick a strategy that is compatible with the end goals of your company’s efforts.
- Red-Green Refactoring: This is one of the most popular forms of software refactoring that is in line with the agile philosophy. This method revolves around writing simple code and testing it. The process starts with a “red test” and analyzing where the code is failing. From this point, the code is corrected until it gets a “green test.” This signifies that the code works as needed. Following the green test, the code is refactored, cleaned, and optimized without compromising existing features. The nature of this approach is that it is an ongoing cycle of testing and refactoring.
- Branching by Abstraction: This technique is often incorporated in large-scale refactoring projects. The main point of this method of refactoring is to remove redundancies within the software application’s code. An abstraction layer is used on the parts of the software system that needs refactoring. Eventually, the abstraction layer is replaced with the complete refactored code.
- Moving Features Between Objects: This technique moves classes around as the refactoring process occurs and hides them from a public access view.
- Preparatory Refactoring: This method of refactoring allows you to save on technical debt in future feature implementations. The essence of preparatory refactoring is to refactor in advance, typically when working on a different piece of the code and noticing an area that would benefit from some clean-up. It is not yet a major ordeal, but tackling it will save a company from strife and expenses in the future. In other words, switching out an old tire on your car before you have a chance to get a flat.
- Composing Method: This refactoring approach is compatible with a situation when code methods are excessively long. Composing refactoring strategies are incorporated to remove the redundancies inside a code. For example, extraction, which breaks down the code into smaller pieces and inline, which takes out the redundant method parts.
- User Interface Refactoring: This refactoring method approaches changes from the user interface. Implementing small changes to UI and subtle refactoring improves the code as a whole.
There are many strategies to choose from depending on the established goal of your refactoring project.
Tizbi Code Refactoring Examples
Code Refactoring Example 1: Crumbs Media
Crumbs Media is another long-term Tizbi customer.
They are an electronic music licensing platform, enabling authors to upload tracks, license their music, and showcase it for movie producers, venues, and other potential buyers. Meanwhile, crumbs customers acquire a license to legally use the music tracks of various genres, moods, and styles for diverse commercial needs.
This project began about ten years before Tizbi inherited it. Initially, the developer in charge was not following the best practices when crafting the project. When the Tizbi development team inherited this project, our client had a very constrained budget and could not afford full refactoring.
Tizbi developers were able to isolate and patch the old code to a functional level. Like a true example of a refactoring prospect, the old code did not facilitate new features. Also, it was difficult to improve client-facing functionality. The pressure to start the refactoring project was growing as the need for new features became more intense.
Eventually, a full refactoring project was initiated, and the project manager was able to win the support of management, which is vital for such an endeavor. At the same time, the customer wanted to change the GUI (graphic design) of the whole project, adding another level of complexity. All was possible due to the flexible nature of software refactoring.
The refactoring project lasted about three months, and the QA cycle was ongoing for another 3-4 weeks. The redesigned website was more aesthetically and worked much faster. Finally, our IT team implemented important new features that were on hold for a long time due to the old or substandard code inherited from the previous development team.
Code Refactoring Example 1: ClearCreek Trucking
ClearCreek Trucking, a logistics company, has been a Tizbi customer for approximately ten years. Our development team helped them create a mobile application that truck drivers used to track time, orders, and other information integrated into back-office databases.
The original version of the software application was created using the Apache Cordova framework. It was working nicely, yet the framework would not be supported in the future by the vendor. There was no choice but to change the underlying technology to another one.
After several consultations, a refactoring project was initiated. In this project, both time and cost were important considerations. The Tizbi development team was able to provide quick service and ensure tight budget control.
The refactored system was functioning within a month, and it was in full production mode in about six weeks. Although it was a stressful situation for the customer at first, we resolved it to their satisfaction with refactoring.
Software refactoring is a critical best practice to keep up when writing a software program. By committing to such a project, a program will get rid of redundancies, run smoother, and improve the overall quality of a piece of code, significantly lowering the risk of future expensive breaks.
Is your company ready to implement software refactoring? Contact us today for a consultation and get the ball rolling.
