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Software maintenance, support and DevOps you can rely on
Software needs looking after. We take over existing applications, fix what is broken, keep servers patched and backed up, and watch for problems early, with a developer who knows your system on the other end of the email.
What it is
Software Maintenance, Support and DevOps: what you get
Maintenance is the unglamorous work that decides whether software stays useful: fixing bugs, updating libraries, renewing certificates, patching servers, watching disk space and checking that last night's backup can actually be restored. When nobody owns it, small problems pile up until something fails at the worst moment.
We take on this work for applications we built and, just as often, for applications we did not. Taking over existing code starts with a review: how it is built, how it is deployed, where the risks are, and what a sensible first month of work looks like. We do not need the original developer, and we do not judge the code; we need to understand it.
On the infrastructure side we administer Linux servers, set up web servers, databases and mail, manage hosting, and automate deployment so releases are repeatable. This is DevOps in a practical sense: fewer manual steps, more reliable systems, and recovery procedures that have been tested.
Problems we solve
Typical problems this solves
The original developer has gone
You have working software and nobody to maintain it. We take it over, learn it and keep it running.
Bugs that never get prioritised
A steady retainer means issues are triaged and fixed, not left in a spreadsheet until a customer complains.
Servers nobody patches
Operating-system, web server and database updates applied on a schedule, with testing and a way back.
Backups that have never been tested
Automated, off-site backups and periodic restore checks, so recovery is a procedure and not a hope.
Outages found by customers
Monitoring and alerts for uptime, errors, certificates and disk space, so we hear first.
Deliverables
What we deliver
- A handover review of the code, hosting and known issues
- Bug fixing and small changes, tracked in your issue tracker
- Dependency, framework and security updates on a regular schedule
- Linux server administration, hosting management and backups
- Monitoring, alerting and an incident procedure
- Clear monthly or on-request reporting of the work done
Technologies we use
- Linux (Debian, Ubuntu, RHEL family)
- Apache
- Nginx
- MySQL / MariaDB
- PostgreSQL
- Docker
- CI/CD pipelines
- Bash
- PHP
- Python
- cloud VPS and AWS / Azure / GCP basics
We work in any language. See all technologies.
Engagement
How the engagement works
We begin with a free consultation and a review of the code and hosting. You get a written summary of the state of the system and a suggested support arrangement.
Support is usually a monthly retainer for a set amount of developer time, or pay-as-you-go for occasional fixes. We agree how you report problems, what counts as urgent, and when we respond; our commitments are written down, not implied. We work in time zones that overlap with India, Europe, the Middle East and part of the US and Australia, so urgent matters do not wait for a long overnight gap.
Questions
Common questions
Can you take over software built by someone else?
Yes. We start with a code and hosting review, then agree a support arrangement. The original developer does not need to be involved.
Do you manage servers and hosting?
Yes. We administer Linux servers, web and database stacks, mail, SSL certificates and backups, on your VPS, cloud account or hosting plan.
What happens if something breaks at night?
We agree an escalation path in advance. Because we work with clients across several time zones, we plan coverage to suit your business hours.
How do you handle security updates?
We apply operating-system and dependency updates on a schedule, test them first where possible, and keep a rollback route.
Can you improve a system as well as maintain it?
Yes. Maintenance often leads to improvements and modernisation, which we plan with you rather than doing silently.
Related
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Learn moreFurther reading: Fixed price or time and materials: choosing the right contract for your software project
Tell us what you need built
Describe the problem, the system or the idea. We offer a free initial consultation and a written estimate, and you will talk directly to the developer who would build it.