---

name: refactoring-patterns description: "Apply safe refactoring patterns to improve code structure without changing behavior. Use when cleaning up code, reducing technical debt, or improving maintainability." category: development-practices priority: medium tokenEstimate: 1000 agents: [qe-code-reviewer, qe-quality-analyzer, qe-test-refactorer] implementation_status: optimized optimization_version: 1.0 last_optimized: 2025-12-03 dependencies: [] quick_reference_card: true tags: [refactoring, code-quality, technical-debt, maintainability, clean-code]

Refactoring Patterns

<default_to_action> When refactoring:

1. ENSURE tests pass (never refactor without tests)
2. MAKE small change (one refactoring at a time)
3. RUN tests (must stay green)
4. COMMIT (save progress)
5. REPEAT

Safe Refactoring Cycle:

Copynpm test               # Green ✅
# Make ONE small change
npm test               # Still green ✅
git commit -m "refactor: extract calculateTotal"
# Repeat

Code Smells → Refactoring:

NEVER REFACTOR:

• Without tests (write tests first)
• When deadline is tomorrow
• Code you don't understand
• Code that works and won't be touched </default_to_action>

Quick Reference Card

Common Refactorings

The Rule of Three

1. First time → Just do it
2. Second time → Wince and duplicate
3. Third time → Refactor

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Key Patterns

Extract Method

Copy// Before: Long method
function processOrder(order) {
  // 50 lines of validation, calculation, saving, emailing...
}

// After: Clear responsibilities
function processOrder(order) {
  validateOrder(order);
  const pricing = calculatePricing(order);
  const saved = saveOrder(order, pricing);
  sendConfirmationEmail(saved);
  return saved;
}

Replace Loop with Pipeline

Copy// Before
let results = [];
for (let item of items) {
  if (item.inStock) {
    results.push(item.name.toUpperCase());
  }
}

// After
const results = items
  .filter(item => item.inStock)
  .map(item => item.name.toUpperCase());

Decompose Conditional

Copy// Before
if (order.total > 1000 && customer.isPremium && allInStock(order)) {
  return 'FREE_SHIPPING';
}

// After
function isEligibleForFreeShipping(order, customer) {
  return isLargeOrder(order) &&
         isPremiumCustomer(customer) &&
         allInStock(order);
}

---

Refactoring Anti-Patterns

---

Agent Integration

Copy// Detect code smells
const smells = await Task("Detect Code Smells", {
  source: 'src/services/',
  patterns: ['long-method', 'large-class', 'duplicate-code']
}, "qe-quality-analyzer");

// Safe refactoring with test verification
await Task("Verify Refactoring", {
  beforeCommit: 'abc123',
  afterCommit: 'def456',
  expectSameBehavior: true
}, "qe-test-executor");

---

Agent Coordination Hints

Memory Namespace

Copyaqe/refactoring/
├── smells/*          - Detected code smells
├── suggestions/*     - Refactoring recommendations
├── verifications/*   - Behavior preservation checks
└── history/*         - Refactoring log

Fleet Coordination

Copyconst refactoringFleet = await FleetManager.coordinate({
  strategy: 'refactoring',
  agents: [
    'qe-quality-analyzer',   // Identify targets
    'qe-test-generator',     // Add safety tests
    'qe-test-executor',      // Verify behavior
    'qe-test-refactorer'     // TDD refactor phase
  ],
  topology: 'sequential'
});

---

Related Skills

• tdd-london-chicago - TDD refactor phase
• code-review-quality - Review refactored code
• xp-practices - Collective ownership

---

Remember

Refactoring is NOT:

• Adding features
• Fixing bugs
• Performance optimization
• Rewriting from scratch

Refactoring IS:

• Improving structure
• Making code clearer
• Reducing complexity
• Removing duplication
• Without changing behavior

Always have tests. Always take small steps. Always keep tests green.