10Service
Code rescue & upgrades
Apps built fast with AI that half work, and older PHP, Laravel or Node.js apps stuck on versions that no longer get fixes. I make them safe and current.
The short answer
Updated
Code rescue is taking an app that works in a demo but isn't safe or stable, often one built fast with AI tools or left on old versions, and making it fit for real users. I review it, close the security holes, add tests and move PHP, Laravel or Node.js to supported versions. It starts with a paid review.
- Typical budget
- Quoted after a call
- Timeline
- A review in week 1, then fixes in slices
- How it's quoted
- It starts with a paid code review. You get a fixed quote for the fixes or the upgrade after that.
It works on your laptop. Let's make it work for your customers.
Two kinds of code end up on my desk. New apps built quickly with AI tools, which look finished but hide missing permission checks, secrets in the code and no tests. And older apps that have run for years on PHP 7 or an old Node.js, quietly falling out of security support. Both work, right up to the day they don't.
The fix is the same for both. First a review, so we know what's really there. Then the security holes, then tests around the parts that matter, then the upgrade or cleanup in small steps, so the app keeps running the whole time. I'd rather fix what you have than rewrite it, unless the review says otherwise.
A good fit if
- You built your app with Lovable, Bolt, Replit or Cursor and want to launch it
- Your app works, but you're not sure it's safe to put real users on it
- Your site runs on PHP 7, an old Laravel release, or Node 20 or older
- The last emergency patch skipped you because your version was too old
What you get
- 01
A plain-English review
What's there, what's risky and what it'll take to fix, ranked by what could hurt you first. You keep it either way.
- 02
Security fixes first
Secrets moved out of the code, permission checks added, inputs checked, and fake or outdated packages replaced.
- 03
Tests around what matters
Sign-in, payments and the main flows get tests, so the next change, by a person or an AI, doesn't break them.
- 04
The upgrade, step by step
PHP to 8.x, Laravel to a supported release, Node.js to 22 or 24, one step at a time with the app running in between.
How a project runs
Week 1
Review
I read the code, run it and write down what I find. You get the review and a fixed quote.
Weeks 2 to 3
Make it safe
The security fixes, starting with whatever is open to the internet.
Alongside
Add tests
Tests around the flows that matter, before anything big changes.
In slices
Upgrade
Versions moved up one step at a time and checked after each, until everything is supported.
- PHP
- Laravel
- Node.js
- Next.js
- React
- TypeScript
- PostgreSQL
- MySQL
- Docker
- Claude Code
- Cursor
Related work
All of it is under NDA. The private ledger lists it by role, stack and size. See the ledger
Questions people ask
Should we fix it or start again?
Usually fix it. A rewrite throws away everything that already works and takes months. I only suggest one when the review shows the foundations can't hold, and I'll explain why in plain words.
Our app was built with AI. Is that a problem?
Not by itself. AI tools are good at getting something working fast. They're weak on the parts nobody sees: permissions, secrets, error handling and tests. That's what the review looks for.
Which versions can you upgrade from?
Old PHP 5 and 7 apps, older Laravel releases, and Node.js 20 or older. Very old code takes more steps, not a different approach.
How long does a Laravel upgrade take?
Less than most people expect, if it's done one version at a time with tests first. I recently took a SaaS app from Laravel 7 on PHP 7.2 to Laravel 13 on PHP 8.5 in 3 days, 2 of changes and 1 of testing, with no downtime.
Will the site go down during the upgrade?
It shouldn't. Each step is tested on a copy first, then released at a quiet time, with a way back if something goes wrong.
How much does code rescue cost?
It starts with a paid code review. You get a fixed quote for the fixes or the upgrade after that. No open-ended bills.
How long does it take?
The review takes about a week. After that, fixes and upgrades go out in slices, so the riskiest problems are closed first.
What do you need from us to start?
Access to the code, a way to run it, and someone who can tell me what the app is supposed to do.
Further reading
Related services
Contact
Tell me what you're trying to fix.
I read every message myself and usually reply the same day. A rough idea is enough to start.
Or send a short briefHours
Your hours work for me.
San Francisco
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Berlin
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Dubai
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Singapore
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Sydney
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Surat
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Me
I keep flexible hours and move my day to overlap with yours, whether that's a morning standup in New York or a late release in Sydney.