Rebuild the system that's holding your business back
Old architecture, unmaintainable code, or a monolith that breaks every time someone tries to change it. We modernize legacy systems in phases, without shutting down what's live.
We start with a paid technical assessment. You get a written report and phased plan before committing to anything.
Six types of work we take on
Each engagement starts with a technical audit. We map what exists before touching anything.
Frontend rewrite
jQuery spaghetti, outdated Angular, or a template engine from 2012. We rewrite the frontend in React or Vue.js, screen by screen, while the old UI keeps serving users. No big-bang cutover. Typical timeline: 8–16 weeks depending on scope.
- React or Vue.js, following your design system — we work with Figma files or an existing component library
- Screen-by-screen migration, old UI stays live — users see no downtime, old and new run in parallel
- TypeScript from day one — type safety that makes the codebase maintainable long after we hand off
- 8–16 weeks typical timeline — depends on number of screens, API complexity, and design system maturity
Monolith to microservices
A monolith isn't a problem until it becomes one: deployments take hours, a bug in one module breaks everything, and scaling requires copying the whole thing. We decompose using the strangler fig pattern, extracting services one at a time while the monolith keeps running.
- Strangler fig pattern — one service at a time — monolith stays alive and handles requests while services are extracted
- Defined service boundaries before any code is written — we map domain boundaries before extracting anything
- Each service has its own CI/CD pipeline — independent deployments from day one, no more full-app releases
- No big-bang cutover, no coordinated release — each extracted service goes live independently when it is ready
Database migration
Migrating from MySQL to PostgreSQL, moving from a proprietary database to an open standard, or sharding a table that's outgrown a single instance. We run old and new databases in sync during migration, validate data integrity at every step, and switch over with a tested rollback plan ready.
- Old and new databases run in sync during migration — writes go to both, reads switch gradually as validation passes
- Data integrity validated at every step — row counts, checksums, business rule validation before any cutover
- Tested rollback plan ready before cutover — we have reversed a migration before, we know what it takes
- Handles MySQL to PostgreSQL, MS SQL to open-source — schema conversion, function equivalents, driver changes all covered
AI integration into existing systems
Adding AI capabilities to a system that was built without them. Document processing, intelligent search, automated classification, or a copilot built into your existing interface. We integrate through APIs or embedded models, without rewriting the whole application around it.
- Added via APIs or embedded models — no full application rewrite required to add AI capabilities
- Document processing, intelligent search, classification — the most common additions to existing systems
- Existing data model preserved — AI layer sits on top of your current schema, not a migration prerequisite
- Can be phase 1 or phase N of modernization — AI integration does not require the frontend to be rewritten first
Performance audit & optimization
Pages that load in 8 seconds, API endpoints that time out under load, a database that's burning CPU on unindexed queries. We audit, profile, and fix. Most performance issues come from a small number of root causes, we find them and give you a prioritized fix list with expected impact per item.
- Profiling before any changes — we measure first so every fix is prioritized by actual impact
- Database indexing, query rewriting, connection pooling — most performance problems come from the database, we fix them there
- Caching layer design and implementation — Redis, CDN, application-level cache — right tool for each bottleneck
- Benchmarked before and after — you see the improvement in numbers, not just in feel
PHP / legacy backend rewrite
Procedural PHP, old CodeIgniter or CakePHP, an ASP.NET WebForms app, or raw Java servlets. We rewrite into a modern stack. Node.js, Python, or Laravel, preserving all business logic while making the codebase testable, deployable, and maintainable again.
- Node.js, Python (FastAPI/Django), or Laravel — chosen based on your team's future maintainability, not our preference
- All business logic preserved and documented — we read the old code before touching it, nothing gets quietly dropped
- Testable from the start — unit and integration tests written alongside, not bolted on at the end
- Zero-downtime deployment strategy — blue-green or canary deployment, traffic shifts gradually not all at once
The strangler fig approach
Named after a plant that grows around an existing tree until it replaces it. The original system keeps running the whole time.
Technical audit first
Before touching anything, we read the code, run the system, and interview the people who know it. We document what it does, where the pain is, and what the migration risks are. You get a written report.
Parallel systems, not big bang
Old and new run simultaneously. New functionality goes into the modern system. Old paths stay live until every piece is migrated and verified. No release day panic.
Phase by phase, with clear exit points
Each phase has a defined scope, deliverable, and cost. You can stop after phase one and the system is still better than it was. No single phase holds the others hostage.
Rollback plan at every step
Before each migration milestone, we have a tested rollback procedure ready. If something is wrong, we go back. We have never had a migration that couldn't be reversed.
What we migrate to
We recommend based on what your team can maintain long-term, not what's trending.
Frontend
React, Next.js, Vue.js, TypeScript. From jQuery or legacy Angular to a modern, component-based stack.
Backend
Node.js, Python (FastAPI / Django), Laravel. From procedural PHP, old Java, or .NET WebForms.
Databases
PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB. Migration from MS SQL, Oracle, or MySQL monoliths. pgvector for AI search.
Architecture
REST APIs, GraphQL, microservices, event-driven architecture. Message queues: RabbitMQ, Kafka.
Infrastructure
Docker, Kubernetes, AWS, CI/CD pipelines. From manual deployments or bare-metal servers.
AI integration
OpenAI, Claude, LangChain, pgvector, custom ML models, added to existing systems without rewriting them.
From first call to running modern system
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01
Discovery call
30 minutes. We ask about the system, the pain points, the team, and the constraints. You get an honest view of what's realistic before spending anything.
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02
Technical assessment
A paid engagement: 1–2 weeks. We audit the codebase, the architecture, and the data. You get a written report: what exists, what's risky, and a phased modernization plan with effort estimates per phase.
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03
Phase 1, foundation
The lowest-risk, highest-impact work first. Often: CI/CD setup, test coverage baseline, extraction of one service or one screen. The system is already better at the end of phase one.
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04
Ongoing phases
Each phase is scoped, priced, and delivered independently. We review and re-plan between phases based on what we learned. You stay in control of pace and budget throughout.
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05
Handoff & knowledge transfer
Your team gets documentation, training sessions, and 30 days of post-handoff support. The new system should be something your engineers can maintain and extend without us.
Common questions
How do you modernize without breaking what's live?
We use the strangler fig pattern: old and new systems run in parallel. The new system takes over module by module while the old one keeps serving users. No big-bang cutover, no maintenance windows measured in days. Each migration step has a tested rollback procedure ready before we start.
How long does a modernization project take?
Technical assessment: 1–2 weeks. Frontend rewrite: 8–16 weeks. Database migration: 4–10 weeks. Full monolith decomposition: 3–9 months in phases. We give you phase-by-phase estimates after the assessment, not a single number upfront.
What if we don't have documentation for the old system?
That's the normal situation. The assessment phase is specifically designed for this: we read the code, run the system in a test environment, and interview everyone who has institutional knowledge. We map what it does before touching anything.
Can you work alongside our internal team?
Yes, and usually this is the best setup. Your team knows the business logic; we bring the modernization experience. We define clear ownership boundaries and communication rhythm from the start so there is no overlap confusion.
What does it cost?
Technical assessment: €3–8K. Frontend rewrite: €20–50K. Full modernization program: €60K+, spread across phases. Each phase is scoped and priced separately. You can pause between phases without losing the investment already made.
What if the system is truly undocumented and no one fully understands it?
We've been in that situation. The assessment takes longer, we add automated test coverage before touching anything, and we move more conservatively in the early phases. It adds time, but it's manageable. We tell you upfront if the risk level changes our approach.
You might also need
Web development
Building the modern replacement system from scratch, or adding new features alongside the migration.
AI automation
Adding intelligent automation to the modernized system once the foundation is solid.
Hire dedicated developers
Need engineers to drive the modernization from your side? We place senior developers into your team.
What system are you trying to modernize?
Tech stack and the main pain point — we'll tell you the most sensible path forward.
Is your system holding the product back?
Tell us what you're working with. We'll assess whether modernization makes sense, what it would take, and where to start, and get back within 48 hours with a realistic opinion, not a pitch.
Get a modernization assessment →