Custom software
Legacy application modernization, without stopping the business
Legacy application modernization means updating an older system so it is secure, maintainable and able to connect to the tools your business uses today. We start with a fixed-price Code and Architecture Audit, then modernize in stages so your current system keeps running while each part is replaced.
Signs your system is holding you back
Releases take longer every year, and small changes break other things.
Only one or two people understand how the system really works.
Security updates are hard, or the platform is no longer supported.
New tools can’t connect to it, so data is copied by hand.
Costs keep rising just to keep it running.
Should you refactor, rebuild or replace?
Refactor
Improve the existing code without changing what it does. Best when the system works but is hard to change.
Rebuild
Replace the system part by part with new code, while the old system keeps running. Best when the foundations limit what the business needs next.
Replace
Move to an off-the-shelf product. Best when the system does nothing specific to your business.
How we modernize in stages
Code and Architecture Audit
We map the system, its risks and its dependencies.
Plan
We agree the order of work, so the most valuable or risky parts come first.
Modernize in stages
Each part is replaced or improved while the current system keeps running.
Test
Each stage is tested before it reaches your users.
Hand over
Documentation, and a GRACE record of what changed and who approved it.
AI-assisted modernization under GRACE by MatrixTribe
AI tools help us read older code, document what it does and write tests faster. Under GRACE by MatrixTribe, every AI-assisted change has an engineer who understands it, reviews it and approves it, so speed never comes at the cost of control.
Start where it suits you
Where this leads
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is legacy application modernization?
It is the work of updating an older application so it is secure, maintainable and able to connect to modern tools. Depending on the system, that can mean improving the existing code, rebuilding it in stages, or replacing it with a product that already does the job.
How do we know it’s time to modernize?
Common signs are slower releases, changes that break other parts of the system, knowledge held by one or two people, unsupported platforms, and data copied by hand because new tools can’t connect. A Code and Architecture Audit confirms whether modernization is worth it, and where to start.
Should we refactor, rebuild or replace?
Refactor when the system works but is hard to change. Rebuild in stages when its foundations limit what the business needs next. Replace when the system does nothing specific to your business. The audit compares the options for your system before you commit.
Can we modernize without stopping the business?
That is how we plan the work. We modernize in stages, so your current system keeps running while each part is replaced or improved, and each stage is tested before it reaches your users. The Code and Architecture Audit and the plan that follows set the order of work first.
How much does modernization cost?
It depends on the size of the system and how much of it changes. Most work starts with a Code and Architecture Audit, from $2,500 USD, credited in full toward a project signed within 60 days. Projects are then priced as a fixed price per milestone.
Who owns the modernized code?
Typically, you own the code and IP we build for you. We’re bound by our NDA to protect your IP.