Refactoring is a crucial aspect of software development that enhances code maintainability and readability, ensuring that the code functions effectively and remains manageable over time. The article discusses the iterative nature of coding, emphasizing the importance of making code not only functional but also polished and efficient. It illustrates how the growth of software can lead to maintainability issues, using a Python function as an example, and suggests that the Definition of Done for a development team should include refactoring. The concept of CodeLimit is introduced as a tool to help developers determine when refactoring is necessary by categorizing functions based on their line count and associated risk, with a color-coded system indicating the urgency for refactoring. CodeLimit is designed to be easily integrated into a development environment, with potential for future language support, and aims to provide a focused approach to maintaining code quality by signaling when it’s appropriate to refactor.