Refactoring (Deep Workflow)

Refactoring changes structure, not behavior. Safety comes from small steps, fast feedback, and verification (tests, golden outputs, or controlled manual checks).

When to Offer This Workflow

Trigger conditions:

• Code is hard to change; duplication; unclear module boundaries
• Need to prepare an area for a new feature without mixing behavior change
• Paying down tech debt with management expecting “no user-visible change”

Initial offer:

Use six stages: (1) clarify goal & scope, (2) establish safety net, (3) plan increments, (4) execute with reviewable commits, (5) verify behavior, (6) document & follow-ups). Confirm test coverage and release pressure.

Stage 1: Clarify Goal & Scope