Don't Rush Into a Rebuild
Rebuilding a system is never my first choice, but sometimes it’s the only viable path forward. For example, years ago, many teams built web applications using ASP.NET Web Forms. Fast forward to today, and with no straightforward upgrade path to .NET Core, rebuilding becomes inevitable.
A rebuild isn’t just a technical challenge—it’s a communication and planning challenge, too. All too often, teams excited to move on from legacy systems jump straight into rebuilding, thinking, “Finally, no more patching this outdated code!”. Leadership assures stakeholders, “We’re rebuilding; it won’t take long.”
But then reality sets in. The legacy system has more functionality than anyone realized, unexpected issues arise, and timelines spiral. Meanwhile, leadership remains overly optimistic, promising a release “very soon.”
The result? Frustrated teams, unhappy stakeholders, and a delayed product.
Don’t rush into a rebuild.
- Understand What Matters Most: Identify the critical features—what’s heavily used or causing the most maintenance pain.
- Plan Incrementally: Break the rebuild into manageable pieces. Deliver iteratively instead of trying to boil the ocean.
- Communicate Transparently: Be upfront with stakeholders about what’s being rebuilt, why it matters, and the realistic timelines.
Rebuilds don’t have to be chaotic but require clear communication and pragmatism.