A refactoring tool for smalltalk

TLDR

Refactoring is essential for reusable software evolution, ranging from simple renaming to deep design pattern retrofitting, yet tool support is lacking, forcing tedious, error‑prone manual refactoring. The Smalltalk Refactoring Browser automates numerous refactorings and offers an environment to enhance Smalltalk program structure. It implements automated refactoring operations within a browser interface, enabling users to apply transformations directly to Smalltalk code. The tool makes refactoring safe and simple, thereby reducing the cost of producing reusable software. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Abstract

Refactoring is an important part of the evolution of reusable software and frameworks. Its uses range from the seemingly trivial, such as renaming program elements, to the profound, such as retrofitting design patterns into an existing system. Despite its importance, lack of tool support forces programmers to refactor programs by hand, which can be tedious and error-prone. The Smalltalk Refactoring Browser is a tool that carries out many refactorings automatically, and provides an environment for improving the structure of Smalltalk programs. It makes refactoring safe and simple, and so reduces the cost of making reusable software. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.