Randy Pagels demonstrates how GitHub Copilot can transform messy legacy code into clean, maintainable solutions in seconds. This guide walks you through using Copilot Chat for quick and efficient code refactoring.

Refactoring Messy Code Instantly with GitHub Copilot

Posted by Randy Pagels on Jul 11, 2025

Refactoring legacy or “spaghetti” code can be burdensome for developers. In this guide, Randy Pagels demonstrates how to leverage GitHub Copilot to transform messy code into clean, maintainable solutions quickly, using targeted AI refactoring prompts.

Why Use GitHub Copilot for Refactoring?

GitHub Copilot goes beyond auto-completing code. Its AI-driven chat functionality can suggest cleaner, more efficient, and readable alternatives to your existing code, making refactoring less tedious and more productive.

Getting Started: Cleaning Up Your Code with Copilot

Step-by-Step Process

  1. Highlight the Code: Select the portion of code you want to refactor.

  2. Prompt Copilot: Add a clear comment above the code, such as:

    # Refactor this function to be more readable and efficient
  3. Invoke Copilot Chat: Press Ctrl + Enter (Windows/Linux) or Cmd + Enter (Mac) to activate GitHub Copilot Chat.
  4. Review Suggestions: Copilot will generate a refactored, optimized version of your code. Review its suggestions and apply as needed.

Example: Before and After

Original Function (Before):

def calculate_total(items):
    total = 0
    for item in items:
        if 'price' in item and 'quantity' in item:
            total += item['price'] * item['quantity']
    return total

After Copilot Refactor:

def calculate_total(items):
    return sum(item['price'] * item['quantity'] for item in items if 'price' in item and 'quantity' in item)

The updated code is more readable (Pythonic), eliminates boilerplate, and maintains clarity.

Quick Takeaway

When facing messy code, don’t get bogged down in manual rewrites. Use GitHub Copilot’s chat to quickly receive refactoring suggestions. With a simple comment and keypress, you can transform unwieldy logic into clean, maintainable code.

For more tips on AI-assisted coding and productivity, continue exploring resources from Randy Pagels.

This post appeared first on “Randy Pagels’s Blog”. Read the entire article here