MCX and 63 Moons - a common problem than what one would imagine
3 areas which from my experience, one must take care during replatforming.
I came across this article on moneycontrol -
Without dwelling into the sarcasm and economics of the same, this is a problem that is very common across companies, especially those who have a flagship product that is either mission criticial or cash cow.
In this post, I cover 3 areas which from my experience, that one must take care during replatforming.
Replatforming is defined as the process of migrating a website or application from one platform to another. It involves transferring all the data, functionalities, and design elements from the existing platform to a new one. This transition is usually necessary to keep up with evolving technologies, enhance performance, improve scalability, and address any limitations or issues with the current platform.
Replatforming can be a complex undertaking, requiring careful planning, testing, and implementation to ensure a seamless transition for users and maintain the integrity of the website or application.
The first key area is Architectural considerations.
When replatforming a legacy application, it's crucial to carefully evaluate and plan for the architectural changes necessary for a successful modernization. Here are three key points to consider:
Scalability and Performance: Assess the scalability requirements of your application and design an architecture that can handle increasing user demands. Consider factors such as load balancing, caching mechanisms, and horizontal scaling to ensure optimal performance.
Security and Compliance: A replatforming project presents an opportunity to enhance the security posture of your application. Ensure that your new architecture incorporates robust security measures, such as encryption, authentication mechanisms, and compliance with industry regulations.
Integration and Interoperability: Analyze the existing integration points and dependencies of your legacy application. Consider how these integrations will be affected during the replatforming process and plan for smooth transition and compatibility with other systems.
Time spent analyzing these will pay off in the longer term. Most replatforming projects go south because of not giving importance to Architectural considerations.
Second key area is Migration of Existing User Base:
Migrating the existing user base to the new platform is a critical aspect of replatforming. Here are three key considerations when undertaking this task:
Data Migration: Plan and execute a seamless transfer of user data from the old system to the new platform. Ensure data integrity, accuracy, and minimal disruption or downtime during this process.
User Experience: Pay attention to the end-user experience during the migration. Communications, training, and support should be provided to guide users through any changes, minimizing any potential frustration or confusion.
Testing and Validation: Rigorously test the migrated user base on the new platform to identify any potential issues or gaps. Implement effective testing strategies, such as using a staging environment, to ensure a smooth transition and seamless user experience.
Third and most important factor
As organizations undergo the process of upgrading or replacing their existing platforms, developers are faced with the challenge of adapting to the new technologies and systems. This can involve learning new programming languages, frameworks, and tools, as well as understanding the intricacies of the new platform architecture. The transition can be particularly challenging for developers who have been working on the previous platform for a long time, as they may have to unlearn certain practices and adopt new ones. Additionally, the replatforming process often requires developers to modify or rewrite their existing code to ensure compatibility with the new platform. This can be a time-consuming and complex task, requiring thorough testing and debugging to ensure that the code functions correctly in the new environment. Therefore, it is crucial for organizations to provide appropriate support, training, and resources to developers during the replatforming process to minimize the impact on their productivity and enable them to effectively contribute to the successful implementation of the new platform.
Developers who need to support the old platform and need to contribute to replatforming face the challenge of balancing their efforts between maintaining the existing system and transitioning to the new one. This requires a careful approach to ensure that the necessary updates and improvements are made without disrupting the stability and functionality of the old platform. Additionally, these developers need to consider the potential impacts on users, ensuring a smooth and seamless transition that minimizes any inconvenience or disruptions. The key is to strike a balance between the demands of the old platform and the requirements of the replatforming process, ultimately ensuring a successful migration to the new system while still providing support for the legacy platform. It is a challenging task that calls for a deep understanding of both the old and new platforms, as well as strong technical skills and a meticulous approach to problem-solving. However, with the right strategies and careful planning, developers can navigate this dual responsibility and contribute to the successful replatforming process.
When a new tech or system is 50% as effective as the old one, it’s our job to learn it and understand it.And when it hits 77%, we ought to consider creating a new division, a new product line or a new approach that adopts it.
By the time it catches up, we’re either part of it or we’re too late.
-Seth