request-refactor-plan

A software refactoring plan breaks large changes into small incremental commits, keeping the codebase working throughout. It defines scope, testing strategy, and technical decisions before implementation begins.

Structuring a codebase refactor involves conducting interviews to understand goals, decomposing the work into safe commits, and documenting problem statements, testing plans, and out-of-scope items for tracking.

Yes, a structured refactor plan produces a complete proposal with problem statements, solutions, decisions, and testing plans, which can be directly translated into GitHub issues for team tracking.

An incremental commit strategy keeps the codebase working during refactoring by breaking large changes into small, safe commits, ensuring the software architecture remains functional throughout each step.

Yes, a defined testing strategy is required before starting a codebase refactor. Planning includes documenting testing decisions and discussions to ensure each incremental commit remains safe.

Limitations when planning large software architecture refactors include the need to strictly define out-of-scope items and conduct structured interviews, as vague requests must be transformed into detailed proposals.