CppCon 2026

Refactoring is defined as "the process of changing a software system in a way that does not alter the external behavior of the code yet improves its internal structure", and is a core skill and process in modern software development. From "cleaning up a little mess" to handling legacy code to improving testability to completely changing architecture, refactoring is the process to achieve that elusive thing, "clean, elegant, and maintainable code".

This talk will cover the basics of Refactoring from three angles. First, we will cover a few of the most important refactoring techniques and connect them to other well-known points of good C++ style.

Second, we'll talk about how to decide what and where to refactor. Common "code smells" are good places to start, but we will also discuss how to look for "seams" along which code can be cut, and how to find hints left in the code by previous developers that can point the way.

Third, we'll discuss how to successfully execute refactoring, even on a busy team and a big code base. What is the "blast radius" of a change, how to minimize the disruption it causes, and how to avoid annoying co-workers in the process.