Refactoring is the rather unknown term used to describe the activity of optimising Software Code. In the early days of Software Development, Refactoring was a given. Storage was pricey and inefficient Code was slow and vulnerable to error. The genuine Value of improving the Code base comes when someone has to maintain the Application. This is why legacy systems are problematic. No-one can comprehend what is going on in the depths of the Code.

Refactoring – How does One Refactor Code?

It can be surprising how much improvement can be made to an Application. Despite language, if one takes an objective look at the source Code improvement can be made. There are some limitations in particular languages. These limitations make Refactoring specific to the structure of the language. The same general rules however apply. Here are some of the obvious improvements:-.

Refactoring Redundant Code.

It is so easy to modify Code nowadays. A Developer can simply cut and paste some Code from one part of the Application to the new part where he is repeating the function. What must really be happening here is that this Code ought to be a sub-routine. It should appear only once in the Application, not whenever the function is needed. A similar issue is redundant Code. This is not in fact adding Value to the Application. It is performed – thus wasting time, however does not actually do anything. This can occur where Code was composed earlier and it has not been deleted. In some cases it is not even executable. It is just a piece of Code that contributes to the Complexity for the maintenance programmer.

Modules for Re-use.

Re-use is another charming Software term, describing Code that carries out a specific function. This is ideally how great Code should be written; it makes Testing during Development much simpler and is a single point of failure, not repeated throughout the Application.

Refactoring by Splitting up Big Chunks of Code.

Sometimes the source Code in an Application can go on for pages with no breaks or disruptions. Chances are that this is where cutting and pasting of repeated Code is hiding, in addition to redundant Code. It is best to split the Code into more Manageable pieces; calling sub-routines where possible.

Calling Conventions.

For those who are old enough to remember early Basic, and were unlucky enough to maintain any Business Application composed in it. The naming restriction was a nightmare. Try repairing a wages Application with variables with names like C7 and G3, and you will understand the issue. Disciplined Coders would attempt and choose Codes that made some sense; for instance E2 might be a type of earning, and D3 might be a deduction.

In-Source Documentation.

Some brief remarks about what an approach or a function is expected to do can assist when it concerns maintaining an Application. As mentioned above, it might be valuable to include a remark to clarify the reasoning in a complicated function. Comments can also be used to describe the possible options, for alternatives in a menu screen. It is always good to keep in mind that somebody else will have the Task of maintaining the Application you have actually composed, perhaps a couple of years from now.

Refactoring to Improve the design of the Code.

Simpler is much better. This applies to Coding too. If there is an uncomplicated method of Coding an approach or function, do it that way. Complex Code has a greater likelihood of error and is harder to maintain. Plus complicated Code most likely includes redundant Code. Once again, a couple of comments make it simpler to comprehend the intent of the initial Developer.

We found these books great for finding out more information on Agile Scrum:

Exists a Place for Refactoring in Agile?

The Concept of “Working Software Over Documentation” is frequently used to validate a total absence of Documentation in source Code.

The Ninth and Tenth Principles also argue for Quality Code:-.
” Continuous Attention To Technical Excellence And Good Design Enhances Agility” and.
” Simplicity – The Art Of Maximizing Work Not Done – Is Essential”.

So, yes there is a location for Refactoring in Agile, unless the Code was best first time. The only real argument is just how much Refactoring ought to be Done.

Refactoring in Scrum – the Pros and Cons.

While everybody in the Scrum Team (including the Scrum Master, Product Owner and Development Team) ought to be concentrating on getting the Deliverables out for each Agile Sprint, some time must be invested “tidying up” the Code. There are a couple of reasons for this:-.

• Sloppy Code may have made it through the Acceptance Criteria throughout an earlier Sprint, but further down the line it triggers problems because it has flaws that did not failed under previous Testing – the Feature that has stopped working is just being tested now (a dependency issue). This could be a major problem if this is one of the last Sprints.
• Where redundant or repeated Code has actually been composed, it will be selected throughout assessment. It can be emphasized that there are more efficient methods of writing Code. Quality can be improved moving forward.
• One or more of the Development team members may be unskilled and could do with some mentorship. There is no blame connected here.

The primary disadvantage to Refactoring is that typically no time at all has actually been built into any of the Scrum Sprints for doing it. It likewise ought to be Done in small amounts, due to the fact that it does impact the last Scrum Product shipment. Delivery of sub-standard Code has the very same result; the problem is it might just end up being apparent once the Product is in the Marketplace and in the hands of the Customer.