The Weekend Refactoring Routine: Keep Your Codebase Clean with LLM Reviews

Here's a truth that most developers don't want to hear: your codebase is probably messier than you think. And if you're doing vibe coding—which I love and encourage—it's definitely messier than you think.

That's not a bad thing! Vibe coding is about getting ideas out quickly and staying in the flow. But here's the catch: if you don't clean up regularly, that beautiful flow state turns into a nightmare of technical debt that will haunt you later.

The solution? A weekend refactoring routine. And if you don't have the technical expertise to do it yourself, we'll use LLMs to help us out. Let me show you how.

Why Weekend Refactoring Matters

Think of your codebase like your house. You can live in it while it's messy, but eventually, you'll trip over something important or spend an hour looking for your keys. Regular cleaning keeps everything organized and functional.

The same goes for your code. Regular refactoring ensures that:

• • Your code stays aligned with your vision
• • You can understand what you built last week
• • Adding new features doesn't break existing ones
• • Technical debt doesn't accumulate to unmanageable levels
• • Your development velocity stays high

The Weekend Refactoring Routine

I recommend doing this every weekend, or at least every other weekend. Here's my proven routine that takes about 2-3 hours and keeps your codebase in great shape.

Step 1: Review Your Recent Changes

Start by looking at what you built this week. Open your git log or just browse through the files you've been working on. Ask yourself these questions:

• • Does this code still make sense to me?
• • Are there any obvious improvements I can make?
• • Is this code aligned with my overall vision?
• • Are there any patterns I'm repeating unnecessarily?
• • Is this code easy to understand and maintain?

Don't be too hard on yourself—remember, vibe coding is about getting ideas out quickly. The goal isn't perfection; it's clarity and maintainability.

Step 2: Identify the Messy Areas

Look for these common signs of code that needs refactoring:

Step 3: The LLM Code Review Process

This is where it gets interesting. If you're not confident in your technical knowledge, use an LLM to help you understand and improve your code. Here's my proven process:

The LLM Review Workflow

I use this exact process with ChatGPT, Claude, or any other LLM. It works surprisingly well for code review and simplification.

# LLM Code Review Request

## Context
I'm working on a [describe your project/feature] and I want to make sure this code is clean, 
simple, and maintainable. I'm not a technical expert, so please help me understand what this 
code does and how to improve it.

## Code to Review
[Paste your code here]

## Questions
1. What does this code do in simple terms?
2. Is this code easy to understand and maintain?
3. What could be simplified or improved?
4. Are there any potential bugs or issues?
5. How would you refactor this to make it cleaner?

## My Vision
[Describe what you're trying to achieve with this code]

Please explain everything in simple terms that a non-technical person can understand.

Example: LLM Review in Action

Let me show you how this works with a real example. Here's some code I recently reviewed using this method:

function processUserData(userData) {
  let result = [];
  for (let i = 0; i < userData.length; i++) {
    let user = userData[i];
    if (user.active === true && user.age >= 18 && user.email !== null && user.email !== undefined && user.email !== '') {
      let processedUser = {
        name: user.firstName + ' ' + user.lastName,
        email: user.email,
        age: user.age,
        status: 'active'
      };
      result.push(processedUser);
    }
  }
  return result;
}

function processUserData(users) {
  const isValidUser = (user) => {
    return user.active && 
           user.age >= 18 && 
           user.email?.trim();
  };

  const formatUser = (user) => ({
    name: `${user.firstName} ${user.lastName}`,
    email: user.email,
    age: user.age,
    status: 'active'
  });

  return users
    .filter(isValidUser)
    .map(formatUser);
}

Step 4: Give Recommendations Back to the LLM

After the LLM explains your code, you can give it feedback and ask for specific improvements. Here's how to guide the conversation:

Step 5: Implement the Improvements

Now it's time to actually refactor your code. Start with the biggest wins first:

Priority Order for Refactoring

1. Fix obvious bugs - Address any issues the LLM identified
2. Simplify complex logic - Break down long functions into smaller ones
3. Extract repeated code - Create reusable functions for common patterns
4. Improve naming - Make variable and function names more descriptive
5. Organize structure - Move files to better locations if needed
6. Add comments - Document complex logic for future you

Step 6: Test Everything

This is crucial! After refactoring, make sure everything still works. Run your tests, try the main features, and make sure you didn't break anything.

If something breaks, don't panic. This is normal during refactoring. Just revert the changes and try a smaller, more targeted refactor.

Step 7: Update Your Documentation

Take a few minutes to update your project notes, README, or any documentation you keep. This helps future you (and any LLMs you work with) understand the current state of your codebase.

Pro Tips for LLM-Assisted Refactoring

When to Skip the Weekend Refactor

Sometimes you need to skip the refactoring session. That's totally fine! Here's when it's okay to take a break:

• • You're in the middle of a major feature and don't want to risk breaking things
• • You're on a tight deadline and need to focus on shipping
• • You're feeling burned out and need a mental break
• • Your codebase is actually in pretty good shape (lucky you!)

The key is consistency over perfection. It's better to do a small refactoring session every other weekend than to do nothing for months and then try to fix everything at once.

Measuring Your Progress

How do you know if your refactoring routine is working? Here are some signs to look for:

• • You can understand code you wrote last week without confusion
• • Adding new features feels easier and faster
• • You're spending less time debugging
• • Your code feels more aligned with your vision
• • You're more confident about making changes

Getting Started

Ready to start your weekend refactoring routine? Here's how to begin:

The Bottom Line

Regular refactoring isn't about being perfect—it's about staying organized and aligned with your vision. When you combine vibe coding's creative energy with regular cleanup, you get the best of both worlds.

And don't worry if you don't have deep technical knowledge. LLMs are incredibly good at explaining code and suggesting improvements. Use them as your coding mentor, and you'll be amazed at how much you can learn and improve.

Start this weekend. Pick one piece of code that's been bothering you, and let an LLM help you understand and improve it. You might be surprised at how satisfying it feels to clean up your codebase.