— 01
Project stalled after a developer or team change
Improving
an Existing
Project.
I'll review the current codebase, fix bugs, add new features, or help bring the project up to standard. I join what already exists — no demand to rewrite everything from scratch.
Working with existing code
I get up to speed
I don't break things
I improve
Onboarding
1–3
Engagement format
Tasks or retainer
01 — Who it's for
Who needs help with an existing product?
— 02
A backlog of tasks with nobody to do them
— 03
Product works but is slow or has intermittent issues
— 04
Technical debt blocking new feature development
— 05
A new integration needs connecting or an old one needs reworking
— 06
Developer on leave or quit, and tasks can't wait
02 — What's included
How I can help with your project
existing codebase · no rewrite
I work with what's there, not demand a rewrite from scratch
I understand that migrating to a new stack always carries risk, time, and cost. My approach: get up to speed with the existing architecture, understand how everything works, and move forward carefully — without breaking what works.
Laravel / PHP
React / Next.js
TypeScript
PostgreSQL / MySQL
Docker
REST / GraphQL
01
Bug fixing and unstable behavior
Bugs in someone else's code — a special kind of task
Reproducing someone else's bug is harder than your own: there's no context behind the architectural decisions, no history of the task, no understanding of what was considered 'normal' behavior. A quick fix without understanding the root cause leads to the bug coming back somewhere else.
Instability that can't be reproduced locally
There's a class of errors that only manifests in production: race conditions under concurrent requests, cache issues, environment dependencies, memory leaks during extended operation. These can't be 'fixed by hand' — systematic analysis is required.
How I handle this
I start with reproduction: specific step, specific request, specific response. I look at logs, traces, and SQL queries — not just the symptom but the root cause. I lock in the fix with a test so the bug doesn't return after the next deploy.
02
Adding new features
A new feature in old code is not the same as in new code
Every new feature in an existing project requires understanding how adjacent parts are already structured. Ignoring this is the main reason 'simple tasks' stretch into weeks and break things that used to work.
Debt that blocks moving forward
Sometimes you can't just 'add a button' — first you need to deal with how the current architecture doesn't allow doing it cleanly. Trying to work around it leads to more debt and makes the next task even harder.
How I handle this
Before implementing, I look at the adjacent code: exactly where to add an extension point, what might break, which tests the change affects. I implement the feature so it fits into the existing architecture, not sticks out as a separate 'island'.
03
Refactoring and technical debt reduction
Technical debt is not an abstraction
Business logic in controllers. Code duplication in ten places. Functions 300 lines long with no comments. These are concrete problems that slow down development and increase the cost of every subsequent task.
Refactoring without tests is a dangerous experiment
Renaming a method, extracting logic into a service, changing data structure — all of this can break working functionality if there's no test safety net. 'Made and verified manually' doesn't work with complex dependencies.
How I handle this
I approach refactoring iteratively: first cover existing behavior with tests, then change the implementation. I fix only the parts that are actually blocking progress — no global rewrite for aesthetics. Every step can be rolled back if something goes wrong.
04
Performance optimization
'It's slow' is not a diagnosis
'The page loads slowly' can mean anything: a slow SQL query, missing cache, N+1 in the ORM, heavy synchronous operations in the request, non-optimal frontend rendering. Without measuring, it's guesswork, not optimization.
Quick fixes that don't help
Adding an index by intuition, raising PHP memory, enabling all caches — that's not optimization. The real bottleneck may be in an unexpected place: a query takes 2ms but is called 500 times per page.
How I handle this
I start with measurement: profiler, EXPLAIN ANALYZE, slow query logs, Lighthouse for the frontend. I find the real bottleneck and fix that. After the fix — another measurement to confirm the result in numbers, not feelings.
05
Dependency migration and updates
An outdated stack is a growing risk
PHP 7.4, Laravel 8, Node.js 14 — all out of support. Critical vulnerabilities in these versions won't be patched. Moving through several major releases is a non-trivial task requiring a systematic approach.
An update that breaks production
'Updated a package — deploy broke'. This is typical when updates are done without understanding breaking changes, without tests, and without a rollback plan. Risk is proportional to the number of dependencies and depth of technical debt.
How I handle this
I audit the current stack: what's outdated, what critically needs updating, what can stay. I build a phased migration plan: lower-risk components first, then those with dependencies. Each step is verified with tests so there's a safe rollback path.
06
Adding tests and improving reliability
Code without tests is code without a safety net
A project with no tests builds up fear of change. Every edit carries a risk of breaking something silently. Development slows down: people are afraid to touch others' code, and deploys become stressful events.
100% coverage is not the goal
Tests on getters and trivial code are noise, not safety. Value comes from tests on critical business logic, edge cases, and integrations that can realistically break when adjacent parts change.
How I handle this
I start with an audit: what's covered, what isn't, and what actually needs coverage. I write tests for critical business scenarios and the most frequently changed parts of the codebase. I set up or improve the CI pipeline so tests run automatically on every commit.
07
Adding new integrations
Integration is not just 'calling an API'
Connecting a third-party service to an existing product requires understanding how it fits into the current flow, what happens when that service has an error, and how that affects the user. 'Just calling an API' without retry logic and error handling is a potential incident waiting to happen.
Old integrations held together by hacks
Old projects often contain: direct HTTP requests without abstraction, hardcoded tokens, integrations without handling credential expiry. This works until the first change on the partner's side.
How I handle this
I wrap all external calls in adapters with retry logic, timeouts, and proper error handling. I refactor old integrations to a state where they can be changed in one place. I write integration tests with mocked responses — so integrations can be verified without calling the real service.
08
Code audit and architectural recommendations
'What's actually going on in this project?'
Sometimes a client doesn't understand the state of their product or why development is so slow. Or they want to hire a developer but first need to understand what they'll be working with. Or after a contractor change, an independent assessment is needed of what was done.
What's important to check
Architecture and separation of concerns. Code quality and presence of common antipatterns. Security: open vulnerabilities, secret storage, access control. Performance: indexes, N+1, caching. Infrastructure: deployment, backups, monitoring.
How I handle this
I run an audit using a structured checklist: code, architecture, security, performance, infrastructure. The result is a clear report with specific findings, priorities ('urgent', 'important', 'nice to have'), and remediation recommendations. Not a list of complaints — an action plan.
03 — How we work
Four stages — from meeting the code to delivering results
Get acquainted with the project
I look at the code, architecture, infrastructure, and task history. I find out what works well, what hurts most, and which direction to move.
Agree on the plan
We form a prioritized task list: what to fix immediately, what to plan for the next sprint, what can be delegated or deferred. We agree on the engagement format.
Complete the tasks
I work iteratively — with intermediate checkpoints. I show results before deploying, document changes in clear commits, and don't touch anything outside the agreed scope.
Hand off and document
I document the changes made, update documentation where it existed or is needed, and explain architectural decisions — so the next developer can continue without losing context.
04 — Result
What you get after project improvement
Not 'rewritten from scratch', but a
product that got better
The project continues to work — just with bugs fixed, new features added, or improved performance. The code becomes cleaner and more reliable, and development becomes more predictable.
Tasks resolved without new problems
Changes are verified with tests and don't break what was working before.
Clear code and context
Changes are documented — they can be handed off to any developer.
A product that's moving forward again
Technical debt reduced, new tasks implemented faster and more predictably.
How to know where to start
Show me the project — we'll figure it out together
No need to prepare a spec or a full task description. Just show what you have: a repository, a list of pain points, or a description of the situation. After a first look I can say how best to approach it and what it will cost. Scope is fixed before work begins.
I usually respond within an hour
first call is free
working together
online
<1 day
response time
1:1
direct, no middlemen
0 ₽
for the first call
Quick replies
within the day
Single developer
full context, always
05 — FAQ
Common questions about improving existing projects
Do you only work with specific technologies?
My primary stack is Laravel, PHP, React, Next.js, TypeScript, PostgreSQL. I can work with other technologies if the product architecture is clear and the tasks don't require narrow specialization. Share your stack when reaching out — I'll be honest about whether it's a fit.
How does onboarding to a project work?
Can I hire you on an ongoing basis?
What if the project is in bad shape?
06 — Other services
Related engagement formats
from the services catalog
see all →
see all →