MVP in 3 weeks
100+ products shipped · 10+ years
Application Modernization

Take back control of the application your business runs on.

Previous developers gone? App hard to change? We take over existing applications, stabilize them and modernize them step by step, without pausing the business for a risky rewrite.

Request a consultation See the work

Why businesses trust us with their systems

years taking over and running products, GeekyBones
10+
years taking over and running products
GeekyBones
products built and scaled, GeekyBones
100+
products built and scaled
GeekyBones
of clients stay with us long term, GeekyBones
90%
of clients stay with us long term
GeekyBones
major versions shipped for one client since 2020, Troom
8+
major versions shipped for one client since 2020
Troom
Who it's for

Businesses whose previous developers or agency are no longer available, or whose application has become hard to maintain.

The outcome

An application you can rely on again, owned by a team that understands it.

Sound familiar?

Sound familiar?

What businesses tell us when they need someone to take over.

  1. How we help

    A structured handover: access to every account, a working setup, a map of the system and documentation as we go.

    Discuss this
  2. How we help

    We find the fragile areas first, add tests and monitoring around them, and fix the riskiest problems before adding features.

    Discuss this
  3. How we help

    Step-by-step upgrades of PHP, frameworks and dependencies, with tests catching regressions along the way.

    Discuss this
  4. How we help

    Usually you don’t. We replace the parts that really need it, one at a time, while the business keeps running.

    Discuss this
  5. How we help

    Automated, repeatable deployments, so anyone on the team can release safely.

    Discuss this
  6. How we help

    A codebase audit that tells you, in plain language, what’s healthy, what’s risky and what to do first.

    Discuss this
What you get

From inherited code to a system you trust

Practical steps, ranked by business risk.

Request a consultation
  • 01

    Codebase audit

    A clear picture of what’s healthy, what’s fragile and what to fix first.

  • 02

    Handover and documentation

    Access, setup guides and a map of how the system fits together.

  • 03

    Stabilization

    Fixes for the issues that cause incidents, before new features.

  • 04

    Platform upgrades

    PHP, framework and dependency upgrades, step by step.

  • 05

    Automated deployments

    Reliable releases that don’t depend on one person.

  • 06

    Monitoring

    Problems spotted on a dashboard before customers report them.

  • 07

    Incremental modernization

    Replace one part at a time instead of a risky rewrite.

  • 08

    Ongoing ownership

    Maintenance and new features from a team that knows the system.

How it works

How a takeover works

Stabilize first, then improve. Most handovers take weeks, not months.

  1. Access and setup

    Secure every account and get the app running from the repository alone.

  2. Map and audit

    Document the system and find the fragile areas, ranked by business risk.

  3. Stabilize

    Fix the riskiest issues, add monitoring and make releases safe.

  4. Modernize

    Upgrade and improve step by step while new features keep shipping.

Case studies

Products we own and keep improving

Long-term ownership is how we work.

Mobility / Transportation

Troom – Private Driver App

Problem
People wanted to be driven in their own car, for business trips or evenings out, without parking stress or driving home themselves.
Solution
One iOS and Android app for customers and drivers, with hourly booking, nearby-driver matching and credits.
Result
Live on iOS and Android across Belgium, with 1,000+ rides every month and growing.
View case study Troom
EdTech / AI

Tandem

An AI app that turns a child's ideas into illustrated stories, fact books and play ideas that parents and kids enjoy together.

View case study
Technology

Technology we take over and modernize

Including the older stacks many businesses still run on.

Backend

  • PHP
  • Symfony
  • Node.js
  • Database upgrades

Frontend and mobile

  • React
  • WordPress
  • React Native
  • iOS and Android

Operations

  • Automated deployments
  • Monitoring and error logging
  • Backups and restores
More services

Other ways we can help

Most clients use more than one service as their product grows.

FAQ

Modernization questions

Straight answers to what teams ask before they start.

Still have a question?

Ask a senior engineer directly. We reply within one business day.

Ask us something else
01

Can you take over an app built by another agency or freelancer?

Yes, that’s one of the most common ways clients come to us. We start with access, setup and an audit, then stabilize before adding features.

02

Do we need a full rewrite?

Rarely. Most applications improve faster and with less risk by replacing parts one at a time. If a rewrite is the right call for a specific part, we’ll tell you why.

03

Can you modernize a legacy PHP application?

Yes. We upgrade PHP and frameworks step by step, introduce structure gradually, and replace the worst parts behind clear boundaries.

04

How long does a handover take?

Usually a few weeks, depending on the size of the system and how much access and documentation already exists.

05

Will the app keep running during modernization?

Yes. Every change is small and releasable, so the business keeps running and new features keep shipping.

Insights

Further reading

Modernization

Taking over an application from another team: a handover checklist

Read article
Modernization

Modernizing a legacy PHP application without a full rewrite

Read article
Scalability

Signs your architecture is starting to slow your growth

Read article
Let's build what's next

Inherited an app that’s hard to change? Let’s talk.

Tell us what you're building, fixing or trying to scale. We'll help you understand the next step.

Request a consultationLet's talk View our workOur work