Groping in the dark

The biggest technical challenge in this project was the takeover without a proper knowledge transfer. As the initial developer was no longer available, we first had to familiarize ourselves intensively with the existing code and architecture. This proved to be particularly challenging as the documentation was incomplete and many details were not clear.

In addition, it was necessary to bring the applications up to the latest state of the art, which took a lot of time. This process involved updating outdated libraries, implementing new security standards and optimizing performance to ensure that the applications were not only stable but also future-proof.

There were definitely moments when we were worried. Particularly challenging were the updates that brought some breaking changes with them that we couldn't identify in advance. These unforeseen changes led to unexpected complications that stalled the project at times.

It was worrying as we not only had to maintain the existing features but also ensure that no new bugs were introduced. These critical phases required intensive debugging, close team collaboration and often creative solutions to resolve the issues and successfully move the project forward.

Meeting our own quality standards

To overcome these challenges, we involved a highly experienced full-stack developer in the project (since all developers on our team are senior full-stack developers, this was a no-brainer for us). This senior developer not only brought extensive technical knowledge, but also the necessary experience to solve complex problems efficiently.

Since one of our core values is delivering highest quality, we always make sure that products we take over are already built well, otherwise we won't take on the project. So before actually confirming to take over the project, we carefully checked the existing code for quality. This included a thorough analysis of the code base to identify potential vulnerabilities and technical debt at an early stage.

This proactive approach enabled us to make targeted improvements and ensure that we continued to work on a solid basis. Thanks to our developer's expertise and careful preparation, we were able to overcome the technical challenges and successfully move the project forward.

On the project, we work in a continuous maintenance and development process. This includes regular update checks to ensure that the software is always up to date and working properly. Short-chain and uncomplicated communication with the customer was and is essential to ensure quick responses to any problems or change requests that arise.

We use awork for our KANBAN processs to organize and manage our tasks, because it's a steady and fluent process from both sides. awork enables us to track the progress of maintenance and further development transparently and manage it efficiently. After we have uploaded updates to the test environment, the customer tests them with their own team before they are finally released. This ensures that the changes meet the customer's requirements and that no unexpected problems occur.

This structured and collaborative process has enabled us to develop and maintain a stable and reliable software solution.