Identifying refactoring opportunities using logic meta programming

Abstract

We show how automated support can be provided for identifying refactoring opportunities, e.g., when an application's design should be refactored and which refactoring(s) in particular should be applied. Such support is achieved by using the technique of logic meta programming to detect so-called bad smells and by defining a framework that uses this information to propose adequate refactorings. We report on some initial but promising experiments that were applied using the proposed techniques.