JART: grammar-based approach to refactoring

Abstract

Refactoring is a way of improving software artifacts after they have been produced to fulfill users' needs. It is a semi-formalized approach that makes software easier to read and modify. A notation for refactorings, systematic search and replace is described. It is shown, that grammar-based notation used in JART (Just Another Refactoring Tool) is much more flexible and readable than the existing ones.