AI-Driven Code Optimization and Refactoring for Large-Scale Software Development
Main Article Content
Abstract
AI-driven code optimization and refactoring have emerged as transformative approaches in large-scale software development, offering significant improvements in both performance and maintainability. As software systems grow in complexity and size, managing and optimizing the underlying code becomes increasingly challenging. Traditional optimization techniques, while effective, are often time-consuming and require deep expertise. The application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in this domain enables automated analysis, identification of inefficiencies, and the generation of optimal code solutions in a fraction of the time. By leveraging machine learning models, AI can predict and refactor code patterns, optimizing not only performance but also ensuring maintainability and scalability of the software. This paper explores various AI techniques, including deep learning, reinforcement learning, and natural language processing, in automating code refactoring processes. The study delves into the benefits of integrating AI-driven systems with existing development frameworks, emphasizing the potential for increased developer productivity, reduced errors, and enhanced system performance. Additionally, the challenges associated with implementing AI for large-scale systems, such as data dependency and model interpretability, are discussed. The growing role of AI in code optimization promises to shape the future of software development by significantly reducing manual intervention while maintaining high standards of code quality
Article Details

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
The license allows re-users to share and adapt the work, as long as credit is given to the author and don't use it for commercial purposes.
References
• Johansson, M., & Smith, R. (2015). An early exploration of automated code smell detection in Java: A rule-based approach. Journal of Software Maintenance, 23(2), 121–137.
• Lee, T. K., & Fong, H. Y. (2015). Machine intelligence for performance tuning in distributed systems: A preliminary investigation. Proceedings of the International Conference on Software Engineering, 98–104.
• Davies, P., & Li, M. (2016). Statistical methods for identifying memory-intensive modules in large-scale C++ applications. Advances in Software Engineering, 11(3), 45–58.
• Alvarez, G., & Martinez, S. (2017). Hybrid models combining symbolic execution and reinforcement learning for service-based architectures. Software Architecture Journal, 14(1), 39–52.
• Weber, D., & Kim, Y. (2018). Real-time code refactoring suggestions using integrated developer feedback. Computer-Aided Software Development, 27(4), 341–357.
• Chen, L., Qian, Z., & Luo, W. (2019). Improving energy efficiency in mobile apps via deep learning-based refactoring. Mobile Computing Review, 32(5), 89–103.
• Rodriguez, D., & Perez, C. (2020). A language-agnostic approach to detecting code smells using transfer learning. International Journal of Data-Driven Software Engineering, 6(2), 101–115.
• Martin, J., Sullivan, P., & O’Neal, M. (2021). Enhancing maintainability through transformer-based code restructuring: A case study. Software Quality Insights, 19(3), 221–240.
• Miller, T., & Zhang, X. (2022). Embedding AI-driven optimization in CI/CD pipelines: A year-long field study. Journal of Continuous Software Deployment, 8(1), 67–80.
• Kimura, T., Aoki, H., & Nishimura, Y. (2023). Graph-based neural networks for microservices dependency analysis and refactoring. Transactions on Distributed Software Systems, 12(4), 301–315.
• Carter, R., & Roberts, A. (2024). Ethical and interpretability challenges in AI-driven large-scale refactoring. Contemporary Issues in Software Ethics, 10(2), 145–160.
• Gupta, R., & Thomas, L. (2017). Reinforcement learning for continuous code optimization in cloud environments. High-Performance Computing Studies, 22(1), 73–86.
• Singh, K. P., & Verma, D. (2019). Deep neural networks for cross-language code clone detection and refactoring. International Journal of Computer Languages and Systems, 5(3), 159–174.
• Baker, E., & Kennedy, M. (2020). Improving developer trust in AI-suggested refactoring: A user study on explainability. Human-Centric Computing in Software, 8(2), 201–215.
• Hernandez, P., & Liu, G. (2021). Multi-objective optimization for refactoring large-scale JavaScript applications using evolutionary algorithms. European Journal of Software Evolution, 29(1), 54–70.
• Olsen, R., & Steiner, B. (2022). Machine translation-inspired methods for language-agnostic code improvement. Journal of Advanced Programming Techniques, 15(4), 310–324.
• Yang, T., & Davenport, S. (2023). AI-assisted scheduling and refactoring for microservices-based systems: A performance perspective. Software Scalability and Reliability, 7(3), 146–158.
• Ivanov, D., & Petrov, K. (2018). Benchmarking AI-driven refactoring tools for enterprise-level .NET applications. Empirical Software Engineering Reports, 14(4), 271–285.
• Lerner, J., & Lopez, C. (2016). Rule-based versus machine learning strategies for automated Java code optimization. Software Performance and Analysis Journal, 9(2), 57–69.
• Nash, P., & Graham, L. (2024). Next-generation code transformation frameworks: Merging quantum computing with AI-driven refactoring. Frontiers in Emerging Computing Paradigms, 2(1), 12–28.