How Provis keeps LFT (Law Firm Tools) running, and is cleaning up its architecture before a move to PHP 8.
LFT is an existing legal application on a legacy PHP and Yii stack, and older technology is hard to maintain. Provis maintains it, ships updates and fixes, and is cleaning up its architecture. A move to PHP 8 is planned for once that is stable. It has not happened yet.
- Maintenance
- Architecture clean-up
- PHP 8 planned
Client: LFT (Law Firm Tools)Legal practice tools, United StatesKept running now, tidied next, upgraded later.
- Kept running
- Ongoing
- Updates and fixes keep the application working for its users
- Tidier code
- Being done
- Cleaning up how the application is put together makes it easier and safer to change
- PHP 8
- Planned, not done
- A newer PHP version comes after the clean-up, so the application stays supported
At a glance
- Problem
The application runs on a legacy PHP and Yii stack, and maintaining older technology is challenging.
- Solution
Provis maintains it, ships updates and fixes, and is cleaning up the architecture so a move to PHP 8 can follow.
- Status
Maintenance and the architecture clean-up are ongoing. The PHP 8 move is planned, not done.
- Client
- LFT (Law Firm Tools)
- Industry
- Legal technology: practice tools for law firms
- Market
- United States
- Services
- Application maintenance, architecture clean-up, planned PHP upgrade
- Stack
- A legacy PHP and Yii stack, with a move to PHP 8 planned
- Status
- Ongoing: maintenance and architecture clean-up. Planned: PHP 8
A working application on a stack that is getting harder to keep.
LFT has an existing legal application, and Provis maintains and improves it. The application runs on a legacy PHP and Yii stack.
Maintaining older technology is challenging. Moving to a current PHP version is the goal, but the architecture has to be in good shape first, and the application has to keep working throughout.
How an older application usually ages
- Built and in useon the tools of its day
- Tools move onthe framework and PHP version fall behind
- Changes get hardereach fix touches tangled code
- Support runs outold versions stop getting security fixes
A typical flow for applications like this, not a record of this client.
Keep it running now, and get it ready to move.
The two problems Provis is working on, and where each stands.
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An older stack that is hard to maintain
The application runs on a legacy PHP and Yii stack, and maintaining older technology is challenging.
What Provis doesOngoing maintenance, updates and fixesProvis maintains the existing application, implements updates and corrections, and keeps it working.
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An architecture that is not ready for a newer PHP
A move to a current PHP version goes better once the architecture is clean and stable. The application also has to keep all its functionality.
What Provis is doingAn architecture clean-up, then a planned move to PHP 8Provis is reviewing the architecture and cleaning it up. The move to PHP 8 is planned for after it is stable. That move has not been done yet.
The plan: clean up first, then move to PHP 8.
- Review the architecture (ongoing)Look at how the existing application is put together
- Refactor and clean up (ongoing)Tidy the code and the structure of the application
- Reach a stable state (planned)The architecture is sound enough to move
- Upgrade to PHP 8 (planned)Move to a current PHP version, with functionality kept working
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Today: Provis maintains the application and ships updates and fixes.
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Under way: reviewing the architecture and cleaning it up.
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Planned: a move to PHP 8, once the architecture is stable. It is not done yet.
How the move is planned:
Clean up first, then upgrade.
A move to PHP 8 is planned for after the architecture is sufficiently improved. It is a future step, not a finished one.
Existing functionality is to keep working through the transition.
How Provis builds and runs web applicationsWhat a legal practice application looks like.
Illustrative screens, designed in Law Firm Tools' style; the real application is private. The matters, people and documents shown are made up. Select one to enlarge it.
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MattersEvery case in one list
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DocumentsKept with their matter
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DeadlinesWhat is due, and when
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Time entriesHours by matter
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SettingsAccount and reminders
Maintained today, with PHP 8 still ahead.
The application is in use and in Provis's care. The move to PHP 8 is planned, not done.
lawfirmtools.com (opens in a new tab)After launch
Maintained, and being improved.
Provis maintains the application, ships updates and fixes, and is cleaning up its architecture. This is ongoing.
The move to PHP 8 is planned for after the architecture is stable. It has not been done.
Provis has delivered 200+ projects since 2012, with a team of 25+ engineers, designers, QA and project leads.
Every Provis build comes with 24/7 monitoring and support after launch.
How every Provis project runs
- One project leadyour single point of contact
- A written weekly update and a demoof what was built that week
- A staging link and your repoyou see the work as it is built; the code goes straight into your repo
- QA before launchour QA team tests every feature
- Yours from day onecode repo, cloud account and domain in your company's name; our team joins as collaborators, and you can remove access at any time
- Our team works in India, on ISTUTC+5:30: 1.5 hours ahead of Dubai, 4.5 ahead of London (5.5 in winter), 9.5 ahead of New York (10.5 in winter)
Running an older application that needs care?
Tell us what it runs on and what you want to keep working. We will come back within two working days with an approach, a rough timeline and a rough cost range. No charge, no commitment.
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