Legacy modernisation

Older software often still runs critical parts of a business, but every year it becomes harder and more expensive to change. Dotqode modernises legacy systems step by step, without a risky big-bang rewrite.

Our approach

We start by understanding what the current system does, including the rules nobody wrote down. Then we plan a migration that replaces parts of the system in stages, with the old and new versions running side by side until each part is proven.

Data is migrated with checks at every step, and users are trained on new screens before old ones are switched off.

Signs it is time to modernise

Legacy systems rarely fail overnight. More often, the cost of keeping them builds up quietly:

• Small changes take weeks, because nobody is confident what else they might break
• The system runs on a language, framework or operating system version that no longer receives security updates
• It is hard to find developers willing or able to work on it
• It only runs on one ageing server in an office or a rented rack
• Staff keep spreadsheets alongside it because it cannot do what the business now needs
• Other tools cannot connect to it, so data is copied across by hand

Common projects

Modernisation can mean very different things, so we agree the target with you before writing any code. Typical projects include:

• Desktop to web. Moving a Windows desktop application used in the office to a browser-based application staff can use from anywhere.
• Framework upgrades. Bringing an application from an unsupported version of its framework or language to a current one, in planned steps.
• Breaking up a large application. Separating one tightly coupled system into clearer parts that can be changed and released independently.
• Adding an API to an old system, so newer web and mobile apps can use its data without a full rebuild.
• Moving from on-premise to the cloud, with a rehearsed cut-over and a way back if anything goes wrong.

Who this is for

This service suits established businesses that depend on software built years ago, often by people who have since left. It also suits companies that have tried a full rewrite before and want a lower-risk route this time. We sign an NDA before looking at your code, and everything we produce, including the new source code and the documentation of the old system, belongs to you.

Modernisation is usually run as an end-to-end project with one project manager accountable for each stage. If your own developers are leading the work, our engineers can join them as a dedicated team. Once the new system is live, maintenance and support keeps it from becoming legacy again.