Fixing Legacy Code Confusion:
From Tower of Babel to Fellowship of the Code
"You're in good hands with TeraTech. They follow up, they communicate, and they get things done."
George Nicholson | Technology Lead, Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA)
The Legacy Code Maze of Moria
- A 20-year-old ColdFusion application, cobbled together by three generations of developers - each with their own quirks, styles, and secret scrolls.
- System upgrades (to things like MySQL or PHP) acted more like rolling the dice in Mordor (unpredictable and often dangerous.)
- Core revenue operations were still done by hand, using spreadsheets and parchment. (Well, not quite parchment.)
- TIA’s internal staff were talented, but ColdFusion was their Shelob’s Lair: dark, tangled, and full of confusion.
- Multiple failed attempts at developing a modern application had left morale low and hopes dimmed.
About the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA)
TIA is a linchpin of the global telecommunications industry, managing critical operations for large phone companies. Yet until recently, much of its vital internal work was still being handled manually. When George Nicholson joined TIA, he inherited a ColdFusion-based labyrinth filled with mysterious functions, unpredictable bugs, and a complex history no one dared disturb.
TIA knew it needed more than a few patches fixed. It needed a guide. After vetting several vendors, they chose TeraTech for their ColdFusion expertise, clear communication, and proximity to TIA's Virginia offices.
How TeraTech Helped (A New Fellowship)
- Transformed a once-manual process into a global, business-critical application.
- Delivered fast, decisive fixes for legacy bugs - even ones that baffled other vendors.
- Ensured consistent support through system upgrades and unknown behavior.
- Formed strong working relationships with TIA staff, building trust and transparency.
- Preserved uptime and minimized disruption during even the most critical moments.
How TeraTech Helped (A New Fellowship)
When George stepped in, the system resembled something from the depths of Khazad-dûm - ancient, vast, and on the brink of collapse. Upgrades brought fear, and bug fixes were more guesswork than skill. TeraTech became the torchbearer in the dark, stepping in when problems were too complex or time-sensitive for internal teams.
Their greatest feat? Turning a paper-based process into a polished, reliable application used around the world. TeraTech translated spreadsheet-based lore into a living, breathing application, and no arcane rituals were required. Even users with little web experience could navigate it with ease.
Beyond code, TeraTech proved invaluable as an ongoing support partner. When OS and CF vendors floundered for weeks over a system bug, a TeraTech engineer cracked it in just 45 minutes. Calm, efficient, and responsive, they filled critical gaps, even taking on Linux sysadmin duties when needed.
George praised their ability to communicate clearly, resolve tickets quickly, and integrate seamlessly with the internal team. He knew what most clients come to realize: even if you may not always know what questions to ask, TeraTech will.
With TeraTech, TIA didn’t just tame legacy chaos - they unlocked a path forward. And as George might say, it’s not about knowing every twist and turn. It’s about having someone beside you who’s read the map and is able to draw a better one.
