How to detect refactorings in a GitHub pull request with RefactoringMiner?

Use the API or command-line with options for commit ranges; the documentation outlines fetching data directly from GitHub and processing each commit in pull requests.

RefactoringMiner vs git diff for code reviews?

RefactoringMiner provides AST-level diffs that highlight structural changes like method extractions, unlike line-based git diff. It's better for understanding refactorings but requires more setup.

Does RefactoringMiner support Python 3.14?

Yes, the README confirms support for Python version 3.14 under the Python roadmap, including comment handling, ensuring compatibility with recent releases.

How accurate is RefactoringMiner for Kotlin refactorings?

Kotlin support is available but precision/recall validation is still in progress per the roadmap, so accuracy may vary compared to well-tested Java detection.

Can I use RefactoringMiner without installing Java?

Yes, via the Docker image on Docker Hub, which containerizes RefactoringMiner, allowing use in environments without local Java installation.

How to integrate RefactoringMiner into a CI/CD pipeline?

Leverage the command-line interface in build scripts or the Maven dependency in Java projects to analyze commits and generate refactoring reports during pipeline execution.

RefactoringMiner — Refactoring Detection for Java & Python

What is RefactoringMiner?

RefactoringMiner is a library and API that detects refactoring operations in code changes across Java, Python, and Kotlin projects. It analyzes Git history to identify structural modifications like method extraction, class renaming, and API migrations, and generates AST diffs for detailed change visualization. The tool helps developers understand code evolution, improve reviews, and support research on refactoring practices.

Target Audience

Software engineers, researchers, and tool builders who need to analyze refactoring patterns, automate code review processes, or study software evolution in multi-language codebases.

Value Proposition

It offers high-precision detection of over 100 refactoring types, multi-language support, and rich AST diff visualization, making it a comprehensive solution for understanding structural code changes beyond traditional diff tools.

Overview

RefactoringMiner is a Java library and API designed to automatically identify refactoring operations within code changes across multiple programming languages. It analyzes commits, pull requests, and commit ranges to detect over 100 refactoring types, from simple renames to complex structural changes. The tool also generates detailed Abstract Syntax Tree (AST) diffs, providing a deeper understanding of code evolution beyond traditional line-based diffs.

Key Features

Refactoring Detection — Identifies 40+ classic refactorings from Fowler's catalog, 52 API-level changes, 8 migration patterns, and 5 test-specific refactorings.
Multi-Language Support — Works with Java, Python, and Kotlin codebases, with TypeScript support planned.
AST Diff Generation — Produces syntax-aware diffs at commit, pull request, and commit range levels.
Visualization Tools — Includes a Chrome extension for refactoring-aware commit reviews and interactive diff visualization in browsers.
Advanced Diff Features — Supports refactoring-aware tooltips, single-page views, embedded GitHub comments, and handling of code moved between files.

Philosophy

RefactoringMiner aims to make code evolution transparent and understandable by precisely tracking structural changes, helping developers and researchers analyze refactoring practices and improve code review processes.

RefactoringMiner

What is RefactoringMiner?

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