To learn how complex your code base really is and how much effort a particular refactoring might require compared to the initial expectations, follow these steps:
- Schedule git reset --hard; git clean -fd to run in 1 hour (e.g. via cron)
- Do the refactoring
- “WT*?! All my changes disappeared?!” – this experience indicates the end of the refactoring
- Go for a walk or something and think about what you have learned about the code, its complexity, the refactoring
- Repeat regularly, f. ex. once every week or two – thus you’ll improve your ability to direct the refactoring so that you learn as much as possible during the short time
