Refactoring in Ruby

The concise, hands-on, relentlessly practical guide to Ruby refactoring - designed specifically for Ruby, not adapted from another language!

- Techniques created from scratch for the dynamic Ruby language, not compiled languages such as C++ or Java.
- Introduces common code 'smells' and refactorings through a series of structured, hands-on exercises.
- Helps Ruby developers recognize poor design, improve existing programs, and create new Ruby programs that are far more efficient, reliable, and maintainable.

Refactoring - the art of improving the design of existing code - has taken the world by storm. So has the Ruby programming language. But most refactoring guides have been written about compiled languages, not dynamic languages such as Ruby. Refactoring in Ruby has been written 'from the ground up' for Ruby, and offers what developer needs most to master refactoring: realistic, hands-on practice. This practical workbook teaches Ruby developers exactly how to recognize the 'code smells' that offer opportunities for improvement, and teaches every step needed to change small aspects of program design without breaking anything. For each area of Ruby development, the authors identify cues for spotting poor Ruby code design, demonstrate why imperfect design presents a problem, explains when it's best to leave existing design alone, shows how the design got this way, describes what to do about it, and shows what to look for next. Readers learn when and how to refactor with both legacy code and during testdriven development, and walk through a real-world refactoring in detail. The book concludes with a set of large programs designed to help developers practice refactoring in several realistic domains. Along the way, developers will learn powerful lessons about quality Ruby code design: lessons that can help them experience the joy of writing great code far more often.