Refactoring Patterns

Refactoring Patterns Skill

Safe transformations — same behavior, better structure.

Golden Rule

Tests pass before AND after. Never refactor and add features in the same commit.

When to Refactor

When NOT to Refactor

• No tests + time pressure
• Code won't change again
• Right before release (deadline pressure)
• Should rewrite instead (>70% changes needed)
• Exploratory/prototype code

Core Refactoring Moves

Extract Function

When a block does one logical thing, give it a name.

// Before
function processOrder(order: Order) {
  // Validate order
  if (!order.items.length) throw new Error('Empty order');
  if (!order.customer) throw new Error('No customer');
  if (order.total < 0) throw new Error('Invalid total');
  
  // Calculate tax
  const taxRate = order.region === 'EU' ? 0.20 : 0.10;
  const tax = order.total * taxRate;
  
  // Apply discount
  const discount = order.customer.isPremium ? 0.15 : 0;
  const finalTotal = order.total + tax - (order.total * discount);
  
  return finalTotal;
}

// After
function processOrder(order: Order) {
  validateOrder(order);
  const tax = calculateTax(order);
  const discount = calculateDiscount(order);
  return order.total + tax - discount;
}

function validateOrder(order: Order): void {
  if (!order.items.length) throw new Error('Empty order');
  if (!order.customer) throw new Error('No customer');
  if (order.total < 0) throw new Error('Invalid total');
}

function calculateTax(order: Order): number {
  const taxRate = order.region === 'EU' ? 0.20 : 0.10;
  return order.total * taxRate;
}

function calculateDiscount(order: Order): number {
  return order.customer.isPremium ? order.total * 0.15 : 0;
}

Extract Variable

Name complex expressions to reveal intent.

// Before
if (user.age >= 18 && user.country === 'US' && !user.banned && user.emailVerified) {
  allowAccess();
}

// After
const isAdult = user.age >= 18;
const isUSResident = user.country === 'US';
const isInGoodStanding = !user.banned && user.emailVerified;
const canAccess = isAdult && isUSResident && isInGoodStanding;

if (canAccess) {
  allowAccess();
}

Rename for Intent

Names should reveal what, not how.

// Before
const d = new Date().getTime() - start;
const arr = users.filter(u => u.a);

// After
const elapsedMs = new Date().getTime() - startTime;
const activeUsers = users.filter(user => user.isActive);

Replace Conditional with Polymorphism

// Before
function calculatePay(employee: Employee): number {
  switch (employee.type) {
    case 'hourly':
      return employee.hours * employee.rate;
    case 'salaried':
      return employee.salary / 12;
    case 'commission':
      return employee.sales * employee.commissionRate + employee.basePay;
  }
}

// After
interface PayStrategy {
  calculate(employee: Employee): number;
}

class HourlyPay implements PayStrategy {
  calculate(emp: Employee): number {
    return emp.hours * emp.rate;
  }
}

class SalariedPay implements PayStrategy {
  calculate(emp: Employee): number {
    return emp.salary / 12;
  }
}

class CommissionPay implements PayStrategy {
  calculate(emp: Employee): number {
    return emp.sales * emp.commissionRate + emp.basePay;
  }
}

Guard Clauses (Replace Nested Conditionals)

// Before
function getPayAmount(employee: Employee): number {
  let result: number;
  if (employee.isSeparated) {
    result = 0;
  } else {
    if (employee.isRetired) {
      result = employee.pension;
    } else {
      result = employee.salary;
    }
  }
  return result;
}

// After
function getPayAmount(employee: Employee): number {
  if (employee.isSeparated) return 0;
  if (employee.isRetired) return employee.pension;
  return employee.salary;
}

Code Smells → Refactoring

Refactor vs Rewrite Decision

Safe Refactoring Workflow

1. Commit current state (safety net)
2. Run all tests (establish baseline)
3. Make ONE small change
4. Run tests
5. Commit with descriptive message
6. Repeat steps 3-5

Never: Refactor while adding features. Refactor OR feature, never both.

IDE Refactoring Support

Most refactorings are automated in VS Code:

Prefer IDE refactoring over manual edits — fewer mistakes, automatic reference updates.

refactoring-patterns

Safe transformations -- same behavior, better structure.

Quick Facts

Installation

From ACT Edition:

/mall install refactoring-patterns

Or manually copy the plugin contents to .github/skills/local/refactoring-patterns/.

Artifacts

• skill: SKILL.md

Shape: .S..

Skill only -- domain knowledge loaded when pattern matches.