Introduction

Code review and refactoring are time-consuming. AI tools can suggest fixes, explain diffs, and propose structural changes. We survey the landscape and how to fold them into your workflow without losing quality or security.

In-Editor and PR Bots

Inline suggestions
Copilot and similar tools offer completion and inline edits. We discuss how to use them for refactors (naming, extraction, pattern fixes) and when to treat suggestions as drafts.

PR review agents
Bots that comment on PRs can catch bugs, style issues, and security smells. We compare a few options and how to tune them so the signal-to-noise ratio stays high.

Dedicated Refactoring and Analysis

Large-scale refactors
Tools that understand whole codebases can suggest migrations (e.g. library upgrades, pattern adoption). We outline how to run them safely: small PRs, tests, and human approval.

Security and compliance
AI can help flag vulnerabilities and license issues. We note how to combine them with existing scanners and avoid over-reliance on model output.