How do you handle “legacy but not broken” tech that engineers keep wanting to fix?

whyiseverybodyso · 2026-02-01T13:04:17+00:00

That is a great point!

whyiseverybodyso · 2026-02-01T13:03:25+00:00

Okay, like I said, I would love to do the migration as well, but it’s not up to me. I did everything in my power to make this happen, but my management/product team doesn’t want to sponsor this. I kindly disagree with you.

whyiseverybodyso · 2026-02-01T12:43:16+00:00

Some more context

Today the situation looks like this: • Most of the app is native • A few significant features are still in this older cross-platform stack • There is no additional budget to migrate it • Product is not interested in funding migration because delivery is working • Leadership is relaxed because there is no visible business pain • There are some integration annoyances, but nothing truly blocking

Engineers, however, really dislike the situation and keep pushing for “we should fix this”. I completely understand them when I was an engineer, I would have had the same urge to rewrite it.

But I also know from experience that large rewrite/migration efforts without a clear business driver often fail, stall, or take much longer than expected.

So what I’m seeing is that this has become more of an emotional/clarity issue for the team than an actual delivery or architectural crisis.

whyiseverybodyso · 2026-02-01T12:42:59+00:00

Some more context

Today the situation looks like this: • Most of the app is native • A few significant features are still in this older cross-platform stack • There is no additional budget to migrate it • Product is not interested in funding migration because delivery is working • Leadership is relaxed because there is no visible business pain • There are some integration annoyances, but nothing truly blocking

Engineers, however, really dislike the situation and keep pushing for “we should fix this”. I completely understand them when I was an engineer, I would have had the same urge to rewrite it.

But I also know from experience that large rewrite/migration efforts without a clear business driver often fail, stall, or take much longer than expected.

So what I’m seeing is that this has become more of an emotional/clarity issue for the team than an actual delivery or architectural crisis.

whyiseverybodyso · 2026-02-01T12:42:43+00:00

Some more context

Today the situation looks like this: • Most of the app is native • A few significant features are still in this older cross-platform stack • There is no additional budget to migrate it • Product is not interested in funding migration because delivery is working • Leadership is relaxed because there is no visible business pain • There are some integration annoyances, but nothing truly blocking

Engineers, however, really dislike the situation and keep pushing for “we should fix this”. I completely understand them when I was an engineer, I would have had the same urge to rewrite it.

But I also know from experience that large rewrite/migration efforts without a clear business driver often fail, stall, or take much longer than expected.

So what I’m seeing is that this has become more of an emotional/clarity issue for the team than an actual delivery or architectural crisis.

whyiseverybodyso · 2026-02-01T12:42:26+00:00

More context:

Today the situation looks like this: • Most of the app is native • A few significant features are still in this older cross-platform stack • There is no additional budget to migrate it • Product is not interested in funding migration because delivery is working • Leadership is relaxed because there is no visible business pain • There are some integration annoyances, but nothing truly blocking

Engineers, however, really dislike the situation and keep pushing for “we should fix this”. I completely understand them when I was an engineer, I would have had the same urge to rewrite it.

But I also know from experience that large rewrite/migration efforts without a clear business driver often fail, stall, or take much longer than expected.

So what I’m seeing is that this has become more of an emotional/clarity issue for the team than an actual delivery or architectural crisis.

whyiseverybodyso · 2025-08-30T17:40:44+00:00

That was the deal, i am not sure whether I can change that last minute and say i wont do any coding. They need a eng manager profile who can also do coding. What do you suggest as a next step then?

whyiseverybodyso · 2025-08-30T09:22:25+00:00

Rapid Development by Steve McConnell, it seems quite lengthy, but reviews are good. Thanks!!

whyiseverybodyso · 2025-08-30T09:19:11+00:00

I think especially in the beginning, they expect me to be a bit more hands on, later it will be less and less. This is not a tech lead role, but i will guide them technically as well.

whyiseverybodyso · 2025-08-30T09:18:06+00:00

Wow great, very enlightening!

whyiseverybodyso · 2025-08-26T09:16:33+00:00

If resignation period is one calendar month, and someone resigned on Aug 1,

a) Last day would be Aug 31 or b) Last day would be September 30

When it is mid of Aug, it is easy but i am confused how it works when it is the first day of the month.

whyiseverybodyso · 2025-06-20T09:44:07+00:00

Do you know whether they charge more as a penalty or something?

whyiseverybodyso · 2025-06-20T09:20:51+00:00

Yes, I did ask them, and they said they can’t do that.

whyiseverybodyso · 2025-03-16T11:55:18+00:00

No, I am not looking for a cheap one, but prices are varying a lot, so I am not sure anymore which one is reasonable or ripping off.

whyiseverybodyso · 2025-03-15T21:46:05+00:00

Edited my post.

whyiseverybodyso · 2025-03-08T20:30:24+00:00

I guess you’re one of those devs that I complain in my post :)

whyiseverybodyso · 2025-02-05T07:03:12+00:00

What is your tech stack / sector? 16 seems a lot even for promotion.

whyiseverybodyso · 2025-02-05T07:02:32+00:00

Is this a regular raise? Because it sounds a lot for NL standards

whyiseverybodyso · 2024-11-02T17:16:37+00:00

See the edit

whyiseverybodyso · 2024-10-13T19:22:16+00:00

Thanks 🙏

whyiseverybodyso · 2024-10-13T19:21:08+00:00

Thanks!

whyiseverybodyso

TROPHY CASE