Edmonds Commerce - Legacy PHP Modernisation

Overview

Safe, systematic modernisation of legacy PHP applications. From PHP 8 migration to architectural refactoring and strangler fig patterns, we transform legacy systems without the risk of complete rewrites.

Complete Legacy Modernisation Services

PHP 8 Migration (IMPROVE)

Safe migration from PHP 7.x to PHP 8.x with type safety, modern features, and performance gains.

Migration Includes:

Compatibility analysis and planning
Automated and manual refactoring
Type safety implementation
Modern language features
Breaking change management
Comprehensive testing
Performance optimisation

Code Refactoring (IMPROVE)

Systematic refactoring to introduce modern patterns, improve testability, and reduce technical debt.

Refactoring Services:

Extract classes from large files
Introduce dependency injection
Implement SOLID principles
Remove code duplication
Modernise design patterns
Improve code organisation

Strangler Fig Pattern (IMPROVE)

Incremental modernisation strategy without risky complete rewrites.

Approach:

New code in modern PHP/framework
Legacy code continues alongside
Gradual feature migration
Progressive replacement
Zero downtime
Reversible decisions

Legacy Testing (IMPROVE)

Add characterisation tests and approval tests to untested code.

Testing Strategy:

Capture current behavior with characterisation tests
Establish baseline with approval testing
Incrementally add proper unit tests
Validate before refactoring
Prevent regression bugs

Legacy Assessment (SUPPORT)

Complete codebase analysis with technical debt scoring and modernisation roadmap.

Assessment Includes:

PHP version audit
Framework assessment
Test coverage analysis
Technical debt scoring
Security vulnerability scan
Modernisation roadmap
Cost-benefit analysis

Legacy Documentation (IMPROVE)

Code archaeology, architecture diagrams, and knowledge transfer.

Documentation Services:

Architecture reconstruction
Business process documentation
Data flow diagrams
Component relationships
Dependency mapping
Knowledge transfer sessions

The Challenge of Legacy PHP

Common Legacy Issues

PHP Version Lock-in: Stuck on PHP 5.x or 7.x with no support or security patches.

Undocumented Code: Institutional knowledge lost to staff turnover, leaving others confused.

No Tests: Refactoring risk is too high without test coverage to validate changes.

Tangled Architecture: Tight coupling makes changes expensive and risky.

Performance Issues: Inefficient code accumulates over years.

Security Gaps: Outdated practices and unpatched vulnerabilities.

Technical Debt: Shortcuts taken years ago compound into major problems.

Why Modernisation Matters

Security: Outdated PHP versions lack security patches. Staying on unsupported versions violates compliance requirements.

Performance: Modern PHP with JIT compilation and optimisations delivers 30-50% performance improvements.

Developer Productivity: Modern frameworks and patterns accelerate development. Developers prefer working with modern code.

Maintainability: Well-structured code with tests is easier and cheaper to maintain.

Future-Proof: Modern architectures remain relevant longer. Legacy code becomes increasingly isolated.

Competitive Advantage: Move faster than competitors still stuck in legacy systems.

Our Modernisation Philosophy

Incremental, Not Explosive: Change is evolutionary, not revolutionary. Keep the system running while improving it.

Risk Mitigation: Every change is tested. Rollback capability is maintained. Progress is validated constantly.

Knowledge Preservation: Capture institutional knowledge before it's lost. Modernise while documenting.

Team Empowerment: Improve code quality so your team enjoys working with it. Training is built-in.

Business Continuity: The system keeps running. No risky complete rewrites. No extended downtime.

Modernisation Patterns

Strangler Fig

Gradually replace legacy functionality with modern code. Old and new run in parallel during transition.

Timeline: 6-18 months depending on size.

Advantages:

Zero downtime
Reversible decisions
Team stays productive
Low risk

Incremental Refactoring

Improve code quality piece-by-piece whilst maintaining the same overall structure.

Timeline: 3-12 months.

Advantages:

Focused improvements
Measurable progress
Lower cost than strangler
Good for smaller codebases

Complete Rewrite

Build new system from scratch, then migrate data.

Timeline: 12-36 months (risky).

Advantages:

Clean slate
Modern architecture

Disadvantages:

High risk
Extended timeline
Expensive
Unforeseen issues

We recommend against complete rewrites. Strangler fig achieves same result with lower risk.

Technology for Modernisation

PHP 8+ Target: Strongly typed, modern language features.

Modern Frameworks: Laravel or Symfony provide proven architecture.

Testing Tools: PHPUnit/Pest for comprehensive test coverage.

Static Analysis: PHPStan and Psalm catch type errors early.

Automation: Rector and other tools automate common refactoring patterns.

Target Audiences

Legacy System Owners: Modernise systems that are becoming expensive to maintain.

New Acquirers: Understand and improve recently acquired codebases.

Compliance-Bound Teams: Upgrade to supported PHP versions to meet compliance.

Growth-Stage Companies: Move fast with modern architecture as you scale.

Common Statistics

35.68% of PHP teams still run EOL PHP 7.4 (as of 2025).

71.18% of PHP teams have moved to PHP 8.x.

80% code coverage with characterisation tests enables aggressive refactoring.

30-50% performance improvement from PHP 7→8 migration with JIT.

6-12 month timeline typical for medium-sized projects.

Success Factors

Comprehensive Testing: Tests enable confident refactoring.
Incremental Progress: Small, validated changes accumulate.
Team Training: Developers understand modern patterns.
Clear Roadmap: Prioritised, sequenced improvements.
Continuous Validation: Progress measured and verified.

Related Services

Laravel Development: Build new features in modern Laravel alongside legacy code.

Symfony Development: Enterprise-grade architecture for complex domains.

API Development: Expose legacy functionality through modern APIs.

Team Augmentation: Senior developers to lead modernisation effort.

Contact

Based in the UK, serving global clients. Discuss your legacy modernisation strategy, PHP version upgrade, or technical debt reduction plan.