---
title: Refactoring and modernization · VitaminaWeb
description: We modernize legacy systems through gradual refactoring, framework and language version migrations, dependency updates, and cloud migration, module by module
source: https://vitaminaweb.digital/en/services/refactoring-and-modernization
lang: en
---

## What you get

- **01**Technical debt assessment
- **02**Automated tests before refactoring
- **03**Gradual refactoring without taking the system offline
- **04**Framework and version migrations, such as legacy PHP to PHP 8 and jQuery to Vue
- **05**Dependency updates and security fixes
- **06**Documentation for the modernized code

## How it works

1. **Assessment**

  We assess the code and identify the highest-risk areas and technical debt.
2. **Plan**

  We create a prioritized modernization plan that runs alongside operations.
3. **Tests first**

  We create automated tests for the existing code before changing it.
4. **Sprints**

  We refactor in short cycles, with continuous validation and deployment.

## When it makes sense

Any simple change to the system takes weeks and breaks something else.

The system runs on unsupported language or framework versions.

No one on the team wants to touch the old code.

We think we need to rewrite everything, but we cannot stop operations.

## Frequently asked questions

 Is it better to refactor or rewrite from scratch?

In most cases, gradual refactoring is better: it costs less, carries less risk, and lets you keep operating. A rewrite only makes sense when the code is so degraded that refactoring would cost more than rebuilding, which is rare.

 Will the system go offline during modernization?

No. We refactor alongside operations, and each modernized module is released incrementally.

 How can we make sure nothing breaks?

Before refactoring, we create automated tests for the existing code. Each change is validated by these tests before it goes into production.

 Do you migrate systems to the cloud?

Yes. Modernization can include cloud migration, as well as framework changes, dependency updates, and breaking a monolith into services.

 How long does it take to modernize a system?

It depends on the size and condition of the code. The timeline and investment are defined in the modernization plan after the technical debt assessment.

## Often goes together with

  [**WordPress Website Maintenance**Core, plugins, and themes up to date, with backups and security.](https://vitaminaweb.digital/en/services/wordpress-website-maintenance)[**E-commerce maintenance**Checkout, payments, inventory, and performance, all taken care of.](https://vitaminaweb.digital/en/services/e-commerce-maintenance)[**DevOps and CI/CD**Pipelines, automated deployment, and infrastructure as code.](https://vitaminaweb.digital/en/services/devops-and-cicd)