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When Code Cannot Simply Be Refactored

publish date: 2026/06/24 21:27:38.730164 UTC

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What might be necessary if you take over a program for maintenance whose structure has been significantly degraded, beyond what simple code-level refactoring can fix?

Immediately abandoning the project with no further action

Switching the entire team to a completely unrelated project

Design refactoring, which involves identifying relevant design patterns and replacing existing code with code that implements them

Disabling all version control history for the project

Correct Answer

Design refactoring, which involves identifying relevant design patterns and replacing existing code with code that implements them

Explanation

If a program's structure has degraded too significantly for simple code refactoring to help, design refactoring may be required. This involves identifying relevant design patterns and replacing existing code with code that implements those patterns, which is typically a more expensive and difficult undertaking.

Reference

Software Engineering, Ian Sommerville, 10th edition

Quizzes you can take where this question appears

Refactoring - Preventative Maintenance