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Legacy Modernization

Modernize the app your business runs on.

The app works, mostly. But it runs on versions that no longer get security fixes, hiring for it is hard, and nobody wants to touch the billing code. We bring it forward one safe step at a time.

From $2,999

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In short

Legacy app modernization is bringing an ageing business application up to current, supported technology without stopping the business that depends on it. FIMM upgrades old PHP, CodeIgniter and early Laravel apps to current Laravel and PHP versions, adds automated tests around critical features, replaces outdated packages, and can split an old monolith into an API with a React front end. We work in small, reversible steps instead of a risky full rewrite.

Laravel upgrades PHP upgrades CodeIgniter Refactoring Test coverage React
What we build

What we build.

A

Codebase health check

A written review of versions, dependencies, security exposure, test coverage and hosting, with a ranked upgrade plan and the risks of each step.

B

Framework and PHP upgrades

CodeIgniter, plain PHP or Laravel 5 to 8 apps moved to current Laravel on a supported PHP version, one major step at a time.

C

Safety-net tests

Automated tests written around the features that earn you money before we change them, so we can show their behaviour stays the same.

D

Gradual replacement

Old modules replaced piece by piece behind the existing app, known as the strangler-fig pattern, so users keep working throughout.

E

API and React front end

Where it pays off, business logic moved behind a clean API and old jQuery screens rebuilt in React or Livewire.

F

Security and dependency clean-up

Abandoned packages replaced, known vulnerabilities patched, and passwords and keys moved out of the code into proper configuration.

G

Hosting and deployment

A move from a fragile single server to managed hosting on Google Cloud or AWS, with automated deploys, backups and monitoring.

How it ships

How a modernization runs.

Every step is small, tested and reversible, so the app stays live and your team can keep shipping while it improves underneath.

01

Assess

We read the code, map dependencies and data, and deliver a health check with a step-by-step upgrade plan.

02

Protect

We add tests, error tracking and backups around critical flows so every later change can be checked.

03

Upgrade

Versions and modules are upgraded in small releases, each deployed and verified before the next one begins.

04

Hand over

Documentation, a clean deploy pipeline and an optional care plan keep the app current from here on.

Frequently asked

Common questions.

Should we rewrite the app from scratch instead?
Rarely. A full rewrite freezes new features for a long stretch and tends to lose business rules hidden in the old code. Step-by-step modernization keeps the app live, delivers value at each stage and lets you stop at any point with a better system than you started with.
Which legacy systems do you work with?
Mostly PHP: plain PHP applications, CodeIgniter, Yii, older Symfony and Laravel from version 5 onwards, usually with MySQL or PostgreSQL. We also modernize old jQuery front ends and move apps off outdated servers onto current Google Cloud or AWS hosting.
Will there be downtime during the upgrade?
We plan for none on normal days. Changes ship in small releases with tests and a rollback path, and database changes are run in ways that keep the app usable. Where a short maintenance window cannot be avoided, we schedule it with you in advance.
Why does running an old PHP version matter?
Unsupported PHP and framework versions stop receiving security fixes, so known vulnerabilities stay open. They also block newer packages, payment libraries and hosting options, and make it harder to find developers willing to work on the code.
How is this different from your App Rescue service?
App Rescue is for newer apps built quickly with AI tools that need finishing and hardening before launch. Legacy modernization is for established software that has run your business for years and now needs bringing forward without breaking what already works.
What does legacy modernization cost?
Legacy app modernization starts from $2,999 as a one-time fee, which covers the health check and a first upgrade step for a smaller app. Larger apps are upgraded in stages so the business keeps running throughout.
Can you keep the app maintained afterwards?
Yes. An optional monthly care plan covers hosting and monitoring, security updates, backups, bug fixes and small changes, so the app does not drift back into legacy status. Framework upgrades are available as separate work. The code stays yours, with documentation any future team can follow.
Do we need the original developer to be involved?
No, though their notes help if they are available. We work from the code, the database and conversations with the people who use the app every day, and we document what we learn so the knowledge no longer lives in one person's head.
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