Legacy Modernization vs Full Rewrite
The decision that has destroyed more software companies than any other.
Incremental Modernization
Refactor while shipping
Full Rewrite
Start over from scratch
Best when: existing system has business value and active users.
Best when: existing system has unfixable architectural problems AND you can afford 12-24 months of zero new value to users.
Risk profile: low and continuous.
Risk profile: catastrophic if it slips. 70%+ rewrite projects fail.
Time to value: immediate. New features ship from week 1.
Time to value: 12-24 months minimum.
Pernix recommends: 95% of cases.
Pernix recommends: 5% of cases, with significant disclaimers.
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