It feels like rename is by far the most important refactoring operation. If I had an IDE with only one refactoring, I think I'd want rename.
miniblog.
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Exploring a code viewing tool that allows you to rename functions and update the underlying code. Worried I'm reinventing Smalltalk.
Emacs tip: if you rename a command, you can evaluate (fmakunbound 'old-name) and M-x will no longer offer the old version.
Emacs command of the day: rename-uniquely. Great if you want to hold on to a *Help* buffer whilst looking at the help for other things.