Legacy Code Migration: Modernization Strategies

Many companies operate with systems developed 10, 15 or even 20 years ago. These legacy systems, while functional, become increasingly expensive to maintain and limit the ability to innovate.

The Legacy Code Problem

Signs you need to modernize:

• Maintenance costs increasing year after year
• Difficulty finding developers who master the technology
• Inability to integrate with modern systems
• Excessive development time for new features
• Security issues difficult to patch

Migration Strategies

1. The Big Bang Approach

Description: Rewrite the entire system from scratch.

Advantages: Clean and modern final result.

Disadvantages: High risk, expensive, long development time.

Recommended for: Small systems or those with complete documentation.

2. Gradual Migration (Strangler Pattern)

Description: Replace components one by one while the legacy system continues to function.

Advantages: Low risk, value delivered incrementally.

Disadvantages: Period of system coexistence.

Recommended for: Business-critical systems.

3. Encapsulation

Description: Wrap the legacy system with modern APIs.

Advantages: Quick to implement, preserves existing investment.

Disadvantages: Doesn't solve legacy internal problems.

Our Code Convert Service

At Pekka Soft we have developed Code Convert, a specialized code migration service:

• Code analysis: We evaluate the complexity and risks of the current system.
• Migration plan: We design a customized strategy.
• Gradual execution: We migrate by modules with continuous validation.
• Exhaustive testing: We guarantee functional parity.
• Training: We train your team in new technologies.

Common Target Technologies

• Old PHP → Modern Laravel or Node.js
• Visual Basic → .NET Core
• Desktop applications → Web/SaaS applications
• Monoliths → Microservices

Typical Results

Our clients experience:

• 60% reduction in maintenance costs
• 80% improvement in new feature development speed
• Elimination of accumulated technical debt