Software refactoring, accelerated by AI
Make your code easier to change without putting your product on hold.
GlobalOrange combines senior engineers with AI agents to identify delivery bottlenecks and refactor in manageable steps. People stay in control of quality and release decisions.
Human-led. AI-accelerated.
AI agents help engineers map dependencies, spot repetition, prepare bounded changes and draft tests. That can move suitable refactoring work faster than a manual workflow.
Senior engineers choose the approach, review the changes and judge the risks. We estimate the likely gain from your codebase, not a universal multiplier. See how our Human-Agentic Teams work.
Your team stays in control
- Product priorities and architecture
- Test depth and acceptance criteria
- Release timing and rollback
- Tools, repository access and data boundaries
From assessment to controlled releases
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Assess and prioritise
Map dependencies, tests and delivery bottlenecks with your team. Choose a first area and agree how success will be measured.
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Refactor with safeguards
Protect important behaviour with tests. Engineers direct AI agents on bounded changes, then review and verify the results.
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Release and learn
Deploy in small steps, monitor the outcome and retain a rollback route. Use what you learn to set the next priority.
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What is software refactoring?
Refactoring changes the internal structure of existing code while preserving how the product behaves. It can separate responsibilities, simplify complex logic and remove duplication so the next change is easier to make and test.
When technical debt slows you down
Technical debt becomes a priority when it gets in the way of product goals. Common signals are:
- Small changes affect many parts of the system.
- Defects recur or tests are fragile.
- Engineers struggle to extend the code safely.
What you gain
- Code that is easier to understand and review.
- Less duplication and avoidable rework.
- Smaller, safer changes to support your roadmap.
We focus on improvements your team can use, not a larger code output.
How we measure progress
We agree a baseline before work starts: time for comparable changes, rework, defects or code complexity, depending on your goal.
Refactoring takes capacity and carries regression risk. Tests, review and controlled releases stay part of the work. If the platform no longer fits, we assess replacement separately.
Refactoring for your stack
React
Make component boundaries and state easier to work with. Improve testability as the product evolves.
Python
Untangle modules and business logic so changes are easier to understand, review and test.
Java
Clarify service boundaries and reduce complexity in code your team needs to maintain.
Working with .NET? See our approach to .NET refactoring.
Refactoring in practice
“The GlobalOrange team brought an enormous amount of expertise and knowledge to the table and has far exceeded our expectations. Working in harmony with our in-house development team, this collaboration has brought us to where we are today with the platform.”
Refactoring questions
How much faster is human-agentic refactoring?
The gain depends on the task, codebase and quality of the existing tests. AI agents reduce manual work in repeatable changes, code exploration and test preparation. Architecture decisions, undocumented behaviour and critical integrations can still dominate the schedule. We use an initial, representative scope to assess the opportunity and build a realistic delivery plan.
Can you preserve how our product works?
Preserving observable behaviour is the aim of refactoring. We agree on critical user journeys and integrations, establish tests and review changes in small batches. Existing tests are useful evidence, but they may miss important behaviour. Your domain knowledge helps us identify those gaps. New functionality or intentional behaviour changes are scoped separately.
Do AI agents replace senior engineers?
No. Senior engineers decide how to approach the work and oversee verification. AI agents execute bounded tasks within agreed constraints. The required review and validation depend on the impact of the change, the quality of the tests and the risk of the application. Production-critical and regulated systems require appropriate specialist involvement.
How do we keep technical debt from building up again?
Make refactoring part of normal delivery: clear review criteria, automated checks, meaningful tests and time to improve code around new features. Record deliberate trade-offs so they can be revisited. We help your team establish practices that fit its capacity and product, rather than treating technical debt as something a one-off project can eliminate forever.
Yvo is happy to help with your software challenge
Choose how you’d like to get in touch:
- Book a meeting in Yvo’s calendar
- Call us on +31 20 420 4307
- Fill in our contact form
- Email us at info@globalorange.nl
No obligation, just practical advice. Whatever your question, we’ll make sure you leave with a useful next step.