Working Effectively with Legacy Code

Introduction

How to Use This Book

I tried several different formats before settling on the current one for this book. Many of the different techniques and practices that are useful when working with legacy code are hard to explain in isolation. The simplest changes often go easier if you can find seams, make fake objects, and break dependencies using a couple of dependency-breaking techniques. I decided that the easiest way to make the book approachable and handy would be to organize the bulk of it (Part II, Changing Software) in FAQ (frequently asked questions) format. Because specific techniques often require the use of other techniques, the FAQ chapters are heavily interlinked. In nearly every chapter, you’ll find references, along with page ...