Upgraded in steps. Live the whole time.
We take on systems that still run the business but have become risky to change. Unsupported versions, no tests, and knowledge that left with whoever wrote it. Upgraded in stages that keep the thing working. Based in Vienna, working with clients across Europe.
Zurich Insurance, epunkt and Asko modernized with us.
Legacy Modernization in Vienna.
Legacy is usually a compliment. The system has been carrying real work for years, which is more than most software achieves. The problem is not that it is old, it is that changing it has become frightening, so it stops changing while the business around it keeps going.
The reflex is to propose a rewrite. Rewrites are appealing because the new version is imaginary and therefore perfect. In practice they take longer than promised, and the whole time you are maintaining two systems while the old one keeps accumulating the requirements the new one has to match.
We usually recommend the less exciting route. Read and document what is there, get tests around the parts that matter, upgrade the platform in steps, and replace pieces one at a time behind a stable interface. Each step is small enough to stop after, which means the project can be paused when budgets move without leaving you stranded halfway.
Sometimes a rewrite genuinely is right, and we say so. That decision deserves an honest look at the existing system first, which is technical consulting. Older PHP is the codebase we see most, so PHP development covers that specifically.
What you get with Dotbite for legacy modernization
- The system read and documented. Before anything gets touched.
- Steps you can stop after. The project can pause without leaving you halfway.
- Tests around what matters. So changes stop being frightening.
- The business stays live. No freeze while a replacement is built.
- An honest rewrite answer. When starting over really is right, we say so.
- Supported afterwards. It stays current once it is current.
Is your core system too risky to change?
Book a free discovery call →
Our clients
I was absolutely delighted with how quickly the Dotbite team got to work. They focussed very strongly on understanding what the requirements were and supported us in the process both strategically and as sparring partners. I will definitely hire Dotbite again for my next projects.
Dr. Johannes Braith – CEO, Storebox & Co-Founder, whoranks
Working with Dotbite on the development and maintenance of our Vengolino app was simply great! The team is competent, reliable and incredibly uncomplicated. Whether it was updates or new features, everything went smoothly and quickly.
We are very satisfied and look forward to further joint projects with Dotbite!
Christopher Slapal - Head of Marketing & Sales, Vienna Red Cross
Technologies we use
Who is Dotbite?
Dotbite is a team of passionate software engineers, creative designers, digital natives, innovative thinkers, and inspiring product owners who thrive in the digital world. We specialize in scalable solutions for large amounts of data, fast infrastructure, and a user experience made for humans.
Our approach
Together with the customer, we take a holistic look at the project, sift through rough edges, find hidden potential and possible obstacles. The customer’s idea is consistently pursued from the initial concept to beyond the market launch.
Targeted prototypes and conclusive MVPs ensure that the idea is on the right track. Our agility through Scrum allows us to implement changes quickly. Short communication channels and our dedicated teams also ensure that there is always a team member available who is intimately familiar with the subject matter.
Ready to connect the dots?
Hi, I’m Emir, CEO and Co-Founder of Dotbite.
You have an interesting idea for a digital project and are looking for a sparring partner pushing the challenge through with you?
You’ve come to the right place.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should we modernize or rewrite?
Usually modernize. At Dotbite we recommend a rewrite only when the reasoning holds up, because rewrites take longer than promised and you maintain two systems the whole time while the old one keeps accumulating requirements the new one has to match.
What does legacy modernization cost?
It is priced on what the system actually needs, which we can only say after reading it. The assessment is a defined piece of work, and the modernization itself is usually structured in stages you can stop after, so budget stays under your control.
How long does it take?
It depends on how far behind the system is and how much of it is business critical. We work in steps rather than one long project, and each step is small enough that the work can pause when budgets shift without leaving you halfway.
Does the system stay available during the work?
Yes, that is the point of doing it in steps. We upgrade the platform and replace pieces behind a stable interface, so the business keeps running instead of freezing while a replacement is built somewhere else.
Nobody here understands the old system anymore, is that a problem?
It is the normal starting point. We begin by reading and documenting what is actually there, which is valuable on its own. That documentation stays with you regardless of how much modernization work follows.