Back to Services

Bring an ageing application up to speed.

Older software can still be essential to your business. We assess what is holding it back, then plan upgrades around the risks, dependencies and workflows that matter most.

Discuss an application upgrade

Start with a conversation about what you have and what needs attention.

At a glance

The essentials, before you read the detail.

Who it is for
Businesses running an ageing application that is becoming hard to maintain, secure or improve, whoever originally built it.
Technologies
PHP (any version, including legacy releases), Laravel, Livewire, Go, Vue, Nuxt and React Native. We can also work on WordPress sites, though it is not our specialism.
Where we work
Based in Thornaby, working primarily across Teesside and with clients throughout the UK.
How it starts
Get in touch and we reply within one business day. The initial review of your application is free.

When the application still works, but change gets harder

A legacy system is not defined by its age. The problem is when it becomes difficult to maintain, secure or improve.

Updates are being put off
Dependencies, frameworks or infrastructure need attention, but the effect of changing them is unclear.
Every fix takes longer
Small changes are difficult to release or seem to break another part of the application.
Performance is slipping
Pages, reports or background work are slower than the people using them need.
Knowledge has been lost
The original team has moved on and important decisions or deployment steps are undocumented.

Improve what you have, with a clear reason for each change

We start by understanding the application, its users and the changes you need. From there, we can recommend a sequence of work rather than assuming a full rebuild is the answer.

Targeted improvements
Address a specific performance issue, fragile workflow or recurring bug where the rest of the system is sound.
Incremental upgrades
Update dependencies, infrastructure or parts of the application in a planned sequence that can be checked as work progresses.
Replacement where justified
If the existing foundation cannot sensibly support what comes next, plan a replacement around the business workflows that must carry over.

A practical path from assessment to delivery

  1. Understand the system

    Review the application, available documentation, integrations and the people who depend on it.

  2. Identify risks and priorities

    Separate immediate issues from work that can be planned, and explain the trade-offs between possible approaches.

  3. Agree a workable sequence

    Define the scope, checkpoints and first changes before starting implementation.

  4. Upgrade and support

    Deliver agreed improvements and continue maintaining the application where ongoing support is useful.

Common questions

Does a legacy application always need replacing?

No. Some systems benefit from targeted fixes or staged upgrades. We would assess the current application and what you need from it before recommending replacement.

Can you work with an application another company built?

Yes. We can review an existing application and discuss what can be maintained or improved.

Can you upgrade an old PHP or Laravel application?

Yes. We support PHP applications of any version, including legacy releases, and can plan upgrades to PHP and Laravel in stages. New projects use current versions.

Which technologies do you work with?

We work with PHP (any version, including legacy releases), Laravel, Livewire, Go, Vue, Nuxt and React Native. We can also work on WordPress sites, though it is not our specialism.

Is the initial review free?

Yes. There is no charge for the initial review of your application. It lets us understand the system before we recommend or agree any upgrade work.

Can upgrades be done in stages?

Often, yes. The right sequence depends on the current system, its dependencies and the risks of each change. We agree the plan after an initial review.

Need a new team to own the application first? See how application takeover starts.

“Highly recommended. They’ve been dependable in supporting our custom Cybertill integration, and always on hand to resolve any quirks with our legacy website.”

Emma S.

Make the next changea considered one.

Tell us what is becoming difficult to maintain or improve. We can discuss how to assess the application and where to start.

We will look at the existing system before recommending a path.

Discuss an application upgrade

Free, no-obligation conversation to start.

Start with the pressure points.

  • What is difficult to maintain
  • Which workflows must keep running
  • What changes the business needs next

The first conversation helps define what needs reviewing.