Refactoring ZenCoder Code for Production

ZenCoder can assist with refactoring tasks but may not fully trace all the ripple effects of a change across a large codebase. Partial refactors that update the definition of something but miss some usage sites are a common pattern

Use the compiler and type system to surface call sites that ZenCoder missed after a refactoring change. Run the full test suite, not just affected tests. Search for string patterns related to the renamed/changed concept to catch dynamic usages the type system can't find

Not all ZenCoder code needs refactoring. If it works, is secure, and you don't need to modify it, leave it alone. Refactor when: you need to add features and the current structure makes it difficult, bugs keep appearing in the same area of code, or onboarding new developers takes too long because the code is hard to understand.

The golden rule of refactoring: behavior stays the same, structure changes. Before refactoring any code, make sure you have tests covering the current behavior (or add them first). Refactor in small steps — change one thing at a time and verify the app still works. Use version control (git) to commit after each successful change so you can revert if something breaks.

A well-organized project has a predictable structure where anyone can find what they're looking for. Group files by feature (not by type), keep related code together, and use clear naming. Every file should have a single clear purpose. If you can't describe what a file does in one sentence, it's probably doing too much and should be split.