// Service · Legacy System Upgrades
Legacy System
Upgrades
Your system works. Throwing it out costs money. Not upgrading it — is a gamble.
You have a system. It works. It handles customers, money, the core processes of the business. Even if it's built in AngularJS (not Angular), PHP 5, .NET Framework, or Java EE — it gets the job done.
Until today.
Developers who know the tech are retiring or moving on. Adding a new feature takes two months instead of two weeks. Libraries with known vulnerabilities that no longer get updates. A system burning 10x the resources it should. And a customer complaining that the UI looks like 2010.
One day, something will break. The question is: are you driving the upgrade on your terms — or is it driving you when the system collapses?
We do smart upgrades. Without breaking what already works. Without a two-year "big bang."
// 01 · Why not just rebuild
Why not just "rebuild from scratch"?
It's the tempting option. It's also why most full-rewrite projects fail.
- 01
Massive cost
An existing system carries thousands of business decisions you can't recover from a spec doc.
- 02
Time
A rebuild takes 2 to 3 years. Meanwhile, the competition didn't wait.
- 03
Risk
A new system is all-or-nothing. If it doesn't work — you're 3 years behind.
- 04
The old team gets abandoned
The developers who know the business logic aren't on the new project. The knowledge gets lost.
There's a third way: gradual modernization. One system, upgraded component by component, with no downtime.
// 02 · What we do
What we do
From audit to CI/CD — through frontend, backend, database, cloud and UI. Everything needed to bring a system into 2026.
- 01
Initial audit
A comprehensive review of the system. Technologies, dependencies, architecture, weak points, security risks. What's urgent, what's important, what can wait.
- 02
Modernization strategy
Strangler Pattern, gradual refactoring, or a full rewrite — we decide together. Based on risk, budget, and timeline.
- 03
Frontend upgrade
From AngularJS / jQuery / Backbone to modern (React, Next.js, Vue). Without throwing out the backend, without stopping ongoing development.
- 04
Backend upgrade
Old PHP → modern Laravel/Symfony, or Node.js. Java EE → Spring Boot. .NET Framework → .NET 8+. Old Ruby/Python → modern versions.
- 05
Database migration
Old MySQL → modern PostgreSQL/MySQL. SQL Server → a newer version or PostgreSQL. With minimal downtime.
- 06
Cloud migration
On-prem to cloud (AWS, GCP, Azure). Or between clouds. Or optimizing what's already in the cloud.
- 07
Microservices migration
Breaking a monolith into services, at the right pace. Not because it's trendy — because it solves real problems.
- 08
CI/CD setup
From a manual deployment that takes a day, to automated deploys in minutes. With tests, monitoring, and automatic rollback.
- 09
UI/UX modernization
A 2010 interface → a 2026 interface. Responsive, accessible, fast. Without changing the business logic.
- 10
Adding tests
Legacy systems usually lack tests. We add them — so future changes are safe.
// 03 · Our approaches
Our approaches
- 01 · Recommended
Strangler Pattern
We build the new pieces around the old one. Every new feature gets written in the new tech. Over time, the new "strangles" the old. With zero disruption to operations.
- 02 · Rare
Big Bang
A full rewrite all at once. Reserved for cases where there's really no other option — a system so broken it can't be worked on.
- 03 · In-between
Refactor Hybrid
Targeted fixes while the system stays in operation. Structural improvement without swapping the tech stack.
We recommend the right approach for each case — after we've seen the system and understood the business.
// 04 · Technology
Our stack
Known migration paths — from old frontend to modern cloud. With the tools that make the transition smooth.
- Frontend migration
- AngularJS → React
- jQuery → Modern JS
- Backbone → Next.js
- SSR → SPA
- Backend migration
- PHP 5/7 → Laravel
- .NET Framework → .NET 8+
- Java EE → Spring Boot
- Old Ruby/Python → modern
- Database migration
- Old MySQL → PostgreSQL
- Oracle → PostgreSQL
- MongoDB upgrades
- Cloud migration
- On-Prem → AWS
- On-Prem → GCP
- On-Prem → Azure
- Heroku → Vercel/Railway
- Tools
- AWS DMS
- Azure Migrate
- Strangler Frameworks
- Feature Flags
- Blue/Green Deploy
- Architecture
- Monolith → Microservices
- Event-driven
- API Gateway
// 05 · How we work
How we work
- 01STEP 1
Comprehensive audit
Not just the code — processes, documentation, team habits too. The whole system.
- 02STEP 2
Risk report
What's the biggest risk? Security? Operations? Maintenance? You decide what's most urgent.
- 03STEP 3
Modernization plan
A clear roadmap: what to upgrade, in what order, on what timeline, in what budget. With checkpoints along the way.
- 04STEP 4
Gradual upgrade
Sprints of 2 to 4 weeks. Each sprint — one component upgraded, tested, and shipped to production.
- 05STEP 5
Tests at every step
Not just that the new works — that the old doesn't break. Automated regression testing.
- 06STEP 6
Knowledge transfer
Your developers learn along the way. By the time the project ends — the internal team knows how to maintain it.
// 06 · Who it's for
Who this is for
- 01
Orgs with old core systems
Finance, insurance, government, healthcare — systems that need to survive another 10 years.
- 02
Companies losing developers
Whose developers leave because they don't want to work with old tech.
- 03
Businesses that can't add features
Features customers are demanding — that the current code can't support.
- 04
Anyone with a security report
That shows vulnerabilities from outdated dependencies.
- 05
Orgs with growing maintenance costs
Where maintenance costs of the existing system keep climbing.
- 06
Businesses in due diligence
Funding round, acquisition — knowing the system won't pass technical review.
// 07 · Why us
Why us
- 01
Real modernization experience
Dozens of projects behind us. We know where the landmines are.
- 02
Old and new — both sides
Our team works on AngularJS and React. On PHP 5 and Next.js. We're not stuck on one side.
- 03
Gradual improvement, not a gamble
We don't say "throw it out and start over." We help you reach 2026 without stopping the business.
- 04
Long-term partnership
Modernization takes time. We don't disappear after two months. With you to the end.
// 08 · FAQ
Frequently asked questions
01.We're on AngularJS / jQuery. Is there still hope?
Yes. Those are two of the most common cases we see. There are ways to migrate gradually to React/Next.js without breaking the existing system.
02.How much does a legacy system upgrade cost?
Depends on size and complexity. A focused upgrade (UI, backend, or DB) — $14K–$56K. A full mid-sized system upgrade — $56K–$280K. A large enterprise upgrade — $280K and up, spread over months or years.
03.How long does it take?
A focused upgrade — 2 to 4 months. A comprehensive upgrade — 6 to 18 months. A large organization — 1 to 3 years. We don't lie about timelines.
04.Is there downtime during the upgrade?
In most cases, no. We use feature flags, blue/green deployment, and the Strangler Pattern — changes roll in gradually without disruption.
05.Do we have to stop new development?
Not required. We can run in parallel — new features on the new stack, fixes on the old. Both slow down a little, but neither stops.
06.Which technologies are you strongest at migrating to?
React/Next.js for frontend, Node.js/Python/Go for backend, PostgreSQL for DB, cloud (AWS/GCP). But we adapt — sometimes staying on Java/Spring is the right call.
07.What if the internal team doesn't want the change?
It's part of the challenge and we handle it. Training, mentoring, explaining the value. Your team is brought into the project — not pushed aside.
08.We need to move to the cloud. Where do we start?
From an audit of what you have: services, dependencies, data, sensitivity. From there — pick a strategy (Lift & Shift, Replatform, or Refactor).
09.I have a system on SAP / Oracle / a niche tool. Do you handle that?
Depends. SAP, Oracle, Salesforce and the like — we work on integration and upgrades, not always full replacement (that's a specialized domain). Happy to assess.
10.If it takes a year, how do we check you're on track?
Checkpoints every sprint (2 to 4 weeks). Each sprint — a component upgraded, shipped to production, visible. No "surprises at the end."
11.We don't know if our system is "legacy" — how do we tell?
Built before 2018? Dependencies that don't update? Hard to hire developers for it? Fixes that take months instead of weeks? Probably legacy. Book a meeting — we'll look together.
12.What about documentation? There usually isn't any.
As part of the project — we create documentation. Sometimes it's the first real documentation the system has ever had. An asset in itself.
13.We want an AI-driven upgrade — replacing manual processes. Is that possible inside an upgrade?
Absolutely — and it's one of the strongest justifications for modernization. Adding AI into old workflows can save thousands of hours. We do this work.
// 09 · Let's talk
From legacy
to 2026.
A 30-minute intro call. No strings attached. We'll look at the system together, tell you what we see — and how to upgrade without taking the business down.
Straight. To the point. On time.