When your software starts getting in the way instead of supporting your growth, it is time to stop and think. “What should I do to make my digital solution an ally rather than an obstacle. Should I find what’s holding me back and remake it, or should I come up with a brand-new application?”
“Deciding between refactoring and reengineering is tougher than it looks. You never really know what is hiding inside a legacy system until you dig in. From my experience, what starts as a quick fix can turn into a full rebuild. The tricky part is balancing short-term savings with long-term value.” Andrew Lychuk, co-founder of Corsac Technologies.
Legacy systems are consuming up to 80% of IT budgets in some sectors. But how do you know it’s time to rewrite or rebuild your system? There would be signs. You spend more on fixing accumulating tech debt than on innovating. Maintenance is getting harder due to shrinking and expensive human expertise Your software is incompatible with AI and modern tools Your software shows response times under heavy traffic
So how do you know which modernization path to choose in terms of time, cost, and long-term value? This article will break down key differences between the two approaches to help you move forward with confidence.
What Is Reengineering
Software reengineering is the process of creating new functionality or eliminating bugs by making a set of serious changes to a software that is already in use. Think of it as remodeling a solid, but ageing, building. The foundation stays, but the wiring, plumbing, and layout get updated to meet modern standards. Reengineering might involve
• Refactoring old code to make it cleaner.
• Migrating to a new platform or architecture (for example, from on-premise to cloud or from cloud to cloud).
• Updating the UI while keeping the core system’s logic untouched.
• Integrating modern tools or APIs for better performance and security.
The benefits of software reengineering for your organization include lower risk, cost, and faster development compared to an entire rebuild. It preserves valuable business logic and reduces risk, since you are improving what is already proven to work.
What Is Rewriting
Rewriting or rebuilding is the process of starting over – building a totally new software from scratch relying on modern technologies and frameworks. It is like demolishing an old house and building a new one that fits today’s lifestyle perfectly. Businesses rely on rebuilding when the existing software is too outdated or poorly designed, is no longer scalable, and can’t support their business needs. Rewriting comes with greater control over the final product and user experience, but higher costs, and longer development lifetimes.
“Rebuilding a legacy system from scratch can be more expensive and time-consuming – there is no sugarcoating that. But every single time, when clients start working with their new system, they say the same thing: ‘It was worth every bit of it.” says Igor Omelianchuk, CEO of Corsac Technologies.
To sum up, reengineering is about improving what isn’t working while rebuilding is stating all over. When your application has a solid foundation with no serious bugs to be fixed, and all you need is to update its architecture at a lower cost and timeframe, choose reengineering. If your software is obsolete, impossible to maintain within reasonable cost, or if you need a complete redesign, rebuilding is your best investment.
If you don’t know what choice to make, Corsac is here to help. With over 18 years of expertise in updating legacy software in 7 niche, their dedicated developers know how to make your obsolete systems work for the benefit of your organization. They will analyze the current state of your software to help you make an informed decision based on goals, budget, and risk tolerance.
