Claude Code Refactoring: A Practical Workflow

Refactoring code with Claude Code requires a structured three-phase approach because, unlike chat-based AI tools, it can autonomously read, edit, and create files — making undisciplined use risky. The workflow starts with a read-only dependency analysis, followed by a reviewed refactoring plan, then incremental execution with git commits and test runs between each step. This prevents scattered edits, broken imports, and hard-to-catch regressions.