Service
PHP Legacy Migration & Modernization
I modernise PHP applications that have grown beyond what their original architecture can sustain. Typical migration paths: Zend Framework to Symfony, PHP 5/7 to PHP 8, tightly-coupled procedural code to structured, testable backends. These migrations typically involve multi-year production codebases across regulated or high-traffic sectors where downtime is not an option. With 14 years of PHP production experience, I handle the migrations that carry real operational risk: applications that cannot go down, teams that still have to ship features throughout the refactor.
Ce que vous obtenez
Ma méthodologie
Legacy Audit
Dependency mapping, dead code identification, security gaps, coupling analysis. The output is a migration roadmap with phased milestones so you have a clear picture of effort and risk before committing, and your team keeps shipping during the refactor.
Test Harness
Before touching production code, I write characterisation tests against the existing behaviour. That safety net makes every subsequent step reversible: if a migration increment breaks something, the test suite catches it before it reaches production.
Incremental Migration
Module by module: new Symfony code runs alongside the legacy application, not replacing it all at once. Each increment is deployed and monitored in isolation before the next one starts. The legacy codebase stays in production and fully operational throughout.
Cutover & Cleanup
Final cutover with a tested rollback procedure. Legacy code is removed only once monitoring confirms the new codebase is stable under real traffic. Architecture documentation and a handover session with your team are included.
Technologies utilisées
Questions fréquentes
How long does a PHP legacy migration take?
It depends on codebase size, existing test coverage, and how much your team can absorb in parallel with normal delivery. A PHP version upgrade on a reasonably structured application can take a few weeks. A full framework migration (Zend to Symfony on a large codebase) typically spans several months, depending on the codebase size and coupling. I always deliver a phased estimate with milestones after the initial audit.
Can we keep shipping features during the migration?
Yes, and for most engagements this is a hard requirement. The incremental approach means the migration runs in a separate track from normal development. I coordinate with your team on branching strategy and integration points to avoid conflicts.
Do you do the migration alone or with our team?
Either model works. I can work autonomously on the migration track, or pair with your developers throughout, which I recommend when long-term ownership matters. Knowledge transfer is built into the process, not bolted on at the end.
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