Phased migration (recommended for most)
- Keep legacy running while Laravel takes over piece by piece
- Lower risk, easier to validate
- Best when uptime matters
Laravel 12
AWS
GitLab CI/CD
Stripe
EC2/ALB
MySQL
PHP-FPM
CloudWatch
Central Florida + Remote
Migrate Your Legacy PHP App to Laravel 12 - Without Breaking Production
Modernize safely with a staged migration plan, database + data strategy, and a rollout approach that keeps the lights on.
- Choose phased migration (strangler) or a full cutover-whichever is safest.
- Database migrations + model mapping so the new app stays consistent.
- Deployment pipeline + rollback plan included so releases are not scary.
Most migrations fail because they skip planning. I start with a clear inventory and a low-risk path to production.
Request a Free Call
Tell me what's going on. I'll respond with next steps and a rough plan.
Senior-level help without the agency overhead
I build and maintain production Laravel apps and AWS environments. I'm not selling a generic package-I\'m solving the problem you have right now and documenting what I changed so you\'re not stuck again later.
Legacy PHP becomes expensive-fast
When an app is 5-15+ years old, small changes turn into big risks. Security patches pile up, dependencies are outdated, deployments are fragile, and the codebase becomes harder to hire for. The result is slower delivery and more production anxiety.
- Hard to add features without breaking something
- Security and compliance risks increase over time
- Deployments feel manual and unpredictable
- New developers take too long to ramp up
A migration plan built for real production
I do not treat migration like a 'rewrite and pray.' We pick a path that matches your risk tolerance, timeline, and current architecture. That includes a staged plan, parity checks, and a deployment strategy that allows rollback.
- Phased migration to reduce risk
- Data strategy (migrations + cleanup plan)
- Testing and parity checks even if you start with zero tests
- Cutover plan with rollback
Two safe paths
Full cutover (when it makes sense)
- New Laravel app replaces legacy at once
- Faster if legacy is extremely tangled
- Requires stronger test/QA effort
How the migration works
Step 1
Audit & plan
We inventory routes, features, database tables, integrations, cron jobs, and deployment workflow. You get a written migration plan with milestones.
Step 2
Build the Laravel 12 foundation
Laravel app scaffolding, environments, config, auth, migrations/models strategy, and core services so the new codebase is ready to grow.
Step 3
Port features in stable increments
We move functionality in chunks, validate behavior, and keep progress shippable. You'll see regular releases-not a long blackout period.
Step 4
Cutover + hardening
Final cutover, monitoring, backups, and a rollback-ready deployment strategy. You also get documentation for maintainability.
What you get
- ✓ Migration roadmap with milestones
- ✓ Laravel 12 codebase with clean structure
- ✓ Database migrations + model mapping
- ✓ Parity checks and QA plan (even if you start with no tests)
- ✓ Deployment plan with rollback
- ✓ Documentation + handoff notes
What clients say
"Robert stabilized our Laravel app quickly, explained the root cause in plain English, and put guardrails in place so it did not happen again."
"We migrated a legacy PHP system without downtime. The phased plan kept risk low and progress steady."
"Our deploys went from stressful to reliable. CI/CD, backups, and monitoring were handled end-to-end."
FAQ
Can we migrate with little to no downtime?
Usually, yes. The approach depends on your architecture and data flows. Phased migration is designed specifically to keep production stable while changes roll out.
Can the legacy app keep running during the migration?
Yes-that is often the safest path. We move functionality gradually and validate in production without flipping the whole system at once.
What if we do not have tests?
That is common. We add lightweight parity checks and targeted tests around critical workflows first, then expand coverage as we migrate.
How long does a migration take?
It depends on scope and risk tolerance. After the audit, I'll give you a milestone plan so you know what's shipping and when.
Do you handle database migration and cleanup?
Yes. We will map tables, create migrations where appropriate, and plan for any cleanup so the Laravel app stays consistent.
Can you modernize deployments too?
Absolutely. A stable pipeline and rollback plan is part of keeping risk low-especially during migration.
Local planning links
Want a safe migration plan?
Send me a quick overview of the app and what you're trying to accomplish. I'll reply with a suggested approach and next steps.
Request a Free Call
Tell me what's going on. I'll respond with next steps and a rough plan.
Request a Free Call
Tell me what's going on. I'll respond with next steps and a rough plan.
Not a fit if...
- You need the cheapest option available.
- You cannot provide access needed to troubleshoot (or a point of contact who can).
- You're looking for a 'magic fix' without addressing root cause.
- You want to rewrite everything without auditing the current system first.