Legacy code analysis for technology due diligence Case…

Legacy code analysis

The Challenge

For projects in this vein, our legacy code analysis service offering describes how we scope, build and support comparable deliveries from Germany.

Unknown substance before signing

The buyer needed credible statements on maintainability, security posture and integration risks—without access to all production data.

Our Solution

Analysis artefacts

Layered analysis

Static analysis, architecture cuts, review of critical domain paths and sizing of modernisation blocks. Delivered as a priority matrix with effort scenarios for the first 12 months post-closing.

Results

Decision-grade input for pricing and budget

Management could map risks to purchase price and staff an integration backlog with clear priorities.

Features

Feature overview

Code and architecture inventory
Security and dependency hotspots
Roadmap scenarios (stabilisation vs partial modernisation)
Confidential report for board and IT leadership

Frequently asked questions: legacy code analysis for due diligence

How long does a legacy code analysis for due diligence take?

Typically a few business days up to about two weeks—depending on repository size, build complexity and available access. Before we start, we clarify scope (code only versus operations and interfaces) and agree a fixed timeline. For a compact first assessment, the fixed-price legacy code analysis is also an option.

What access and materials are required for the analysis?

Source repositories, build and deploy documentation, dependency lists, an interface overview and ideally architecture sketches. Production data is usually not required; anonymised staging environments are enough for most risk checks. Missing artefacts are documented as a separate risk in the report.

Which technical risks are typically identified?

Maintainability, missing tests, outdated frameworks, security hotspots, licence and dependency risks, key-person dependency and integration bottlenecks. The outcome is a prioritised matrix—not just a traffic light. For modernisation decisions, legacy modernisation often defines the next steps after the analysis.

What format does the analysis report take?

A structured report with risk classes, effort scenarios for stabilisation, partial modernisation and optional rewrite, plus recommendations for the first 12 months after closing. The audience is board, IT leadership and negotiation teams—confidential and without unnecessary jargon. The technical debt calculator can provide initial budget ranges.

When is analysis enough—and when is a rewrite the better option?

Analysis is enough when the codebase is still valuable and modernisation can proceed incrementally. A rewrite is more likely when architecture, stack or testability permanently block further development—with credible cost sizing instead of gut feeling. Between stabilisation and greenfield, software rescue bridges the gap; larger rebuilds are planned through custom software development.

Legacy code analysis for technology due diligence