Refactoring: When to Clean Up (And When to Rewrite)
Refactoring is a tune‑up: you improve names, split long files, and consolidate repeated screens so the app stays easy to change. For vibe‑coding and AI‑first teams, it’s the difference between moving fast once and moving fast every week. The trick is to refactor in small steps while features keep landing—and to know when a rewrite actually saves time.
Signs you should refactor now
- A small change requires edits in many places
- Onboarding or billing breaks when unrelated pages change
- Team members avoid parts of the app because “anything can happen”
How to refactor without stalling
Pair each new feature with one tidy‑up task: extract a shared component, split a giant file, or rename unclear variables. Keep the scope small and visible. The next change will be faster because the path is clearer.
When a rewrite is the right call
If the app’s structure blocks progress and small fixes don’t stick, a scoped rewrite can be faster. Limit it to a user‑facing slice (for example, onboarding) and land it quickly. Measure success by how much faster you can ship the next feature, not by how perfect the code looks.
A practical refactor plan
1) Map the flow users touch most; list pain points 2) Extract shared pieces used in multiple screens 3) Move navigation decisions into one place 4) Add clear names and friendly errors where confusion is highest
Refactoring with AI tools
Cursor and Claude Code are helpful partners when you describe the outcome clearly. Ask for small, reviewable diffs and restate what must remain unchanged. Use Copilot to fill in details and tests that protect key journeys.
Keep users at the center
Refactoring is not about clever code; it’s about fewer surprises. If a change reduces support, speeds up a common task, or prevents a break in a core path, it was worth doing.
If you need a quick, high‑impact clean‑up plan for a vibe‑coded app, Spin by fryga can help you prioritize and land improvements without pausing delivery.
Refactor to buy back speed. Rewrite only the parts that block progress. Keep shipping as you improve.
Case study: faster delivery after a week of tidy‑ups
A team struggled to add a “teams” feature because profile forms existed in three copies. Over a week, they extracted a shared form, moved landing decisions into one helper, and added clear names to confusing routes. The feature landed the next week, and future changes took hours, not days.
Founder FAQs
How much refactoring is enough? Enough that small changes land in one or two places and core journeys stay green. If edits still spread widely, continue tidying.
When should we rewrite? When structure blocks outcomes and small improvements don’t stick. Scope the rewrite to a slice users touch often and keep changes visible.
Small refactor recipes that pay off
- Extract a shared Button/Input used across auth and settings
- Move “where to land after sign‑in” to a single helper
- Replace three near‑identical lists with one component that accepts props
These small moves make no‑code and vibe‑coded apps easier to evolve week after week.