Every legacy modernisation project at Halo Lab starts with an audit — mapping the existing codebase, identifying what can be migrated incrementally, and defining a target architecture before a single line is rewritten.
We modernise legacy systems without stopping product delivery — replacing outdated frameworks, migrating databases, introducing automated testing, and handing your engineering team a codebase they can hire for and maintain.
3 main challenges holding back your growth
Outgrown identity
Your company has grown, but the brand no longer reflects scale or direction.
Outgrown identity
Your company has grown, but the brand no longer reflects scale or direction.
Outgrown identity
Your company has grown, but the brand no longer reflects scale or direction.
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Changes break things
No test coverage — every release risks breaking something already working.
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Can’t hire for the stack
Engineers avoid legacy stacks — every hire takes longer and costs more.
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No documentation to work from
No docs, no tests — new engineers take months to understand the codebase.
“All projects in which we’ve involved Halo Lab have been great successes, but their leadership on our brand refresh is worth highlighting.”
“We’ve had feedback from users, investors, and employees, and everyone has said that Halo Lab did a fantastic job with the branding.”
“We’re proud of their branding services. They not only do what we tell them but also make suggestions to help us improve our offerings.”
What we deliver
Legacy modernization from
audit to modern stack
Codebase Audit
Existing system mapped — architecture, dependencies, risk areas, and migration path documented.
Target Architecture
Modern target stack defined — framework, data layer, and service structure agreed before migration.
Incremental Migration
System migrated module by module — product stays live and shippable throughout the migration process.
Framework Upgrade
Outdated frameworks replaced — modern equivalents implemented with existing functionality preserved.
Database Migration
Database schema modernised and data migrated — zero-downtime strategy planned and executed.
Test Coverage
Automated test suite introduced — unit, integration, and regression tests covering the migrated code.
CI/CD Setup
Deployment pipeline configured — automated builds, tests, and deployments replace manual processes.
Technical Handoff
Architecture documentation, runbooks, and structured handoff for your engineering team to own.
Our most ambitious work
How we work
Our process for your
legacy modernization
Start with a strategy call where we align on your goals, challenges, and priorities, and set a clear direction for the entire branding process.
3–4 Days
Research & analysis
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Codebase Audit
We map the existing system — architecture, dependencies, test coverage gaps, and risk areas — before any modernisation work begins.
5–7 Days Audit report
Target Architecture
We define the target stack, module boundaries, migration sequence, and rollback strategy — agreed with your engineering team before migration starts.
3–5 Days Architecture spec
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Incremental Migration
We migrate the system module by module — replacing frameworks, migrating data, and introducing test coverage sprint by sprint without stopping delivery.
Ongoing sprints Migration sprints
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Testing & Validation
Every migrated module is covered with automated tests and validated against the legacy system before it replaces the original in production.
Ongoing Test suite
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Handoff & Documentation
We deliver architecture documentation, runbooks, and a structured handoff — your team owns and extends the modernised codebase from day one.
1–2 Days Technical handoff
Start with a strategy call where we align on your goals, challenges, and priorities, and set a clear direction for the entire branding process.
3–4 Days
Research & analysis
Industries we serve
Legacy modernization for
diverse products
Healthcare
Legacy modernisation for clinical platforms — HIPAA-compliant target architecture and zero-downtime migration.
Financial Services
Legacy modernisation for fintech — compliance-aware migration, secure data handling, and audit trail preserved.
Logistics
Legacy modernisation for fleet and ops — real-time systems migrated without disrupting live operations.
Real Estate
Legacy modernisation for property platforms — outdated CMS and backend replaced without data loss.
Education
Legacy modernisation for EdTech — LMS and content platforms migrated to modern, maintainable stacks.
Web3 & Blockchain
Legacy modernisation for Web3 — smart contract wrappers and backend services migrated to modern APIs.
Wellness/Fitness
Legacy modernisation for health platforms — outdated app backends migrated to scalable modern stacks.
Information Technology
Legacy modernisation for SaaS and enterprise — monoliths decomposed into maintainable service architectures.
6 reasons why clients
choose Halo Lab
Team with industry depth
Strategy before design
Custom-only approach
Expertise for complex needs
Clear, collaborative process
Flexible value for any budget
100+ verified
love letters
“Halo Lab is very organized in planning to achieve the goals within the set deadlines. We feel they were part of our internal team project.”
“Their experts have a very diverse range of skills and always find a solution to exposed issues. The communication process was clear.”
“During the collaboration, Halo Lab prioritized our people, always taking into account our input and ideas and giving all team members a voice.”
“The Halo Lab team unified branding across our patients’ app, showcasing professionalism, convenience, and consistency.”
“Halo recreated our existing portal with a modern and beautiful experience, greatly increasing usability and delight for the end user.”
“Halo Lab is brilliant. We were impressed with their timely delivery, cost-effectiveness, and the people who knew what they were doing!”
“The value we get from Halo Lab and their quality designs sets them apart from others. They are the right mix of price, talent, and style.”
“We gave the Halo Lab team a chance, and we immediately knew they were the ones we wanted to work with.”
“The Halo Lab work pleasantly surprised us, and bringing in their professional design team has been a worthy investment for us.”
“When collaborating with Halo Lab, we felt that communication was straightforward and that the deliverables fit what we expected.”
“Halo Lab has helped us with a rebrand and defined a new name, logo, and color palette. We’ve had a great experience working with them.”
12 years
We’ve built one of the most trusted agencies
150+
Specialists in design, engineering & product management
78%
Returning clients in Europe & North America
FAQ
Why invest in branding services?
Why invest in branding services?
What does legacy modernization include?
Codebase audit, target architecture definition, incremental migration, framework upgrades, database migration, automated test coverage introduction, CI/CD setup, and engineering handoff.
Do you rewrite the whole system at once?
No. We migrate incrementally — replacing modules one at a time while the product stays live and shippable. A full rewrite is only scoped when the existing system cannot be migrated safely in parts.
Will the product stay live during migration?
Yes. Incremental migration means the existing system continues to run in production while modules are replaced one at a time — with rollback paths defined before each migration step is executed.
How long does legacy modernization take?
Timeline depends on system complexity and the number of modules being migrated. Most projects run over 3 to 9 months in incremental sprints — we scope this in the audit phase.
What stacks do you migrate from and to?
We migrate from PHP, Ruby on Rails, jQuery monoliths, AngularJS, and older Node.js versions — to modern React, Next.js, Node.js, Python, and PostgreSQL stacks, aligned to your team and hiring needs.
Do you introduce automated testing?
Yes. Automated test coverage is introduced as part of migration — unit, integration, and regression tests written for every migrated module before it replaces the legacy version in production.
Do you set up CI/CD as part of the process?
Yes. Automated build, test, and deployment pipelines are configured during migration — replacing manual deployments and giving your team a consistent, observable release process before handoff.
Do you document the modernised system?
Yes. Architecture documentation, API references, and runbooks are delivered as part of the handoff — so your engineering team can maintain and extend the modernised codebase without tribal knowledge.
Do you offer ongoing support after migration?
Yes. Ongoing development retainers are available after modernisation — covering feature development, further migration phases, and platform evolution on the new stack as your product grows.