---

name: refactoring description: Safe refactoring workflow preserving functionality

Refactoring Workflow

Principle

Change structure, preserve behavior.

Flow

Copy1. Ensure tests exist
2. Make small change
3. Run tests
4. Commit
5. Repeat

Safe Refactoring Steps

Before

• Tests cover affected code
• Understand current behavior
• Plan changes

During

• Small, incremental changes
• Run tests after each change
• Commit frequently

After

• All tests pass
• Behavior unchanged
• Code cleaner

Common Refactors

• Extract function/method
• Rename for clarity
• Remove duplication
• Simplify conditionals
• Split large files

Commit Format

Copyrefactor({scope}): {description}

Red Flags

• Changing behavior (that's not refactoring)
• No tests (add them first)
• Large changes (break them down)