Before mobile took over, I spent years building and maintaining enterprise Java systems for the Department of Defense (GSAT, BaS&E), Equifax, Cox Communications and AutomationDirect, and later worked full-stack on PHP, Laravel and React at FormAssembly. Those systems still run a lot of businesses. I can read them fluently, and I know how to move off them without breaking what works.
Typical modernization projects
- Java EE / JSF / Struts to a modern stack, such as Spring Boot or Node APIs with a React or TypeScript front end.
- Legacy PHP to Laravel, including upgrades from unsupported PHP versions.
- WordPress sites that outgrew themselves, moved to a static or headless architecture that is faster, more secure and cheaper to host.
- Database migrations and clean-up across Oracle, DB2, SQL Server, MySQL and PostgreSQL.
- Moving to the cloud with containers, CI/CD and cost-aware AWS or Cloudflare setups. I have seen my share of surprise AWS bills.
Engagement shape
Most modernization work starts with a two-to-three week assessment. I map the system, its integrations and its risks, then give you a phased plan with costs. From there I lead or carry out the migration in increments, so value ships every few weeks instead of after a year-long rewrite.
Frequently asked questions
Can you work with our in-house developers?
Yes. Modernization works best when your team learns the new system as it is built. I pair with your developers, document decisions and leave them able to own it.
How do you avoid a big-bang cutover?
I use the strangler-fig pattern, which means putting a modern layer in front of the legacy system and moving one capability at a time behind it, with both running side by side until the old part can be switched off safely.