Learning legacy Java systems

My task is to maintain and refactor the legacy @ L_ 502_ 0 @ system I'm currently doing c# and C Net, although I am familiar with Java

Legacy systems use RMI, a client / server architecture designed specifically for the 1.4 JVM It is used for UI (as far as I know), swing and AWT

My question is: what is the best way to reach an agreement with the code base I just submitted? I'm thinking about the flow chart of the screen, defining the boundaries between RMI calls, and writing unit tests (for testable bits)

What do you do when you hand over an unfamiliar code base?

thank you!

-Jarrod

Solution

For any new code I submit, the first thing I need to do is look at the existing unit tests Writing new tests is usually the second thing