How We Decide When to Refactor
Why refactoring is a strategic decision, not a technical impulse
Refactoring is often framed as a purely technical concern, but in real products it’s a business decision with long-term consequences. Refactor too early and you slow momentum. Wait too long and small issues harden into systemic risk. Across different product stages and team sizes, one pattern shows up consistently: teams struggle not because they refactor, but because they refactor without clear intent. This article explains how we decide when refactoring is actually justified—and when it’s not.