Editing LLMs Usage FAQ (section)

== How to Get Started with AI-Assisted Refactoring of Legacy Code? ==

📝 Question: I'm responsible for maintaining a system that has been running for over a decade, and my manager has directed me to adopt AI-assisted development tools to refactor the existing codebase. As a relatively junior lead with limited experience in agentic AI tools, I need to guide other junior team members through this initiative — all without external consulting support. How should I effectively approach and drive this forward?

💬 Answer:

Two talks in Mandarin from [https://webconf.tw/ WebConf] are well worth referencing:

The first one is directly on point — the speaker shares a hands-on refactoring journey spanning decades of legacy system work, with collaborative notes and slides available. Although AI coding tools were part of the picture, the core message is that refactoring is fundamentally a software engineering discipline.

The second talk, despite its business-focused title, mirrors your situation closely — a manager hands down a refactoring mandate. The speaker takes a pragmatic angle: given limited development time and resources, rather than rewriting everything one-to-one, start by embedding logs in the legacy system to gather data on which features are actually being used. Then use that usage data to make the case to your manager and other stakeholders that a full rewrite isn't necessary.

Together, these two talks cover the two core challenges you're facing: start with the business mindset, then figure out how to execute.

# Rescuing Legacy Code in the Age of AI — https://webconf.tw/speakers/39
# Living in the Best Era for Tech Workers: Using Business Thinking to Optimize Your Life Choices — https://webconf.tw/speakers/18