Lessons from the Exponential Growth of Refactoring Research in the Last Decade

Abstract

In the last decade refactoring research has seen exponential growth. I will attempt to map this vast landscape and the advances that the community has made by answering questions such as who does what, when, where, why, and how. I will muse on some of the factors contributing to the growth of the field (e.g., refactoring the definition of refactoring to include other artifacts besides source code), the adoption of research into industry, and the lessons that we learned along this journey. This talk will present the value of prioritizing the important tasks, yet often the difficult ones. Several cases studies will show that everything worth doing is uphill all the way. This will inspire and equip you so that you can make a difference, with people who make a difference, at a time when it makes a difference.