I've been using some outdated tools at my job lately and it's become pretty frustrating. They're really slow, only work on specific setups, and honestly feel like they were designed more than a decade ago. Working remotely makes it even tougher, since I often have to jump through a lot of hoops just to get basic tasks done. This got me thinking: is it worth it to rebuild these tools or should we consider moving to something more modern and cloud-based? I'm curious if anyone has been in a similar situation and whether updating made things easier or ended up being more trouble than it's worth.
3 Answers
If you want to modernize, be prepared to pay a developer a hefty sum to redevelop each application into a cloud or cross-platform app. Think carefully about your sunk costs, it often surprises people how much they overlook this aspect.
It sounds like you're in a tough spot! Typically, there's not much difference between running code on a physical server versus a cloud server, as it mostly comes down to replicating the software environment. If the tools are critical, you might consider wrapping them in a modern interface, which is something a decent programmer can handle. You could also think about rewriting in a new language, but that needs someone who knows both the old and new systems.
Yeah, fair point. Probably should've explained more. These tools are older internal apps stuck on local servers and only run on certain machines. They aren’t super complex but are really patched together, and no one’s touched them in years. We’re weighing if it’s better to fully rebuild, shift to the cloud, or just stick with them until they break. Trying to find out if anyone's been in that in-between phase — where the tools still function but slow everything down.
It really varies across projects. Some tasks can be done in a few hours, while others might take a whole team years to complete. Try to assess which tools are truly hindering your workflow before deciding what to do with them.
Yeah, I hear you on that. The cost of a complete rebuild feels huge, especially since the tools still sort of work (just not efficiently). That’s why we’re considering whether there’s a balance, like perhaps just modernizing the parts that matter first.