18+
Years PHP Testing
Since 2007
Testing Expertise
Since 2007
Proven Legacy Testing
Legacy Code Testing
Safe refactoring through complete test coverage
Characterisation tests that capture current system behaviour without documentation
Approval tests (golden master) for complex output verification
Test harnesses for hard-to-test code with global state and dependencies
Automated test generation using static analysis and coverage tools
Test-driven refactoring strategy with incremental coverage improvement
CI/CD integration with coverage tracking and quality gates
Characterisation tests document what your legacy code currently does by writing tests that capture existing behaviour. This pragmatic approach is the fastest way to put untested code under a safety net without requiring specification documents. We use Michael Feathers' proven techniques to systematically capture system behaviour, enabling confident refactoring whilst preserving functionality that may not be documented anywhere except in the code itself.
Characterisation tests that capture current system behaviour without documentation
Approval tests (golden master) for complex output verification
Test harnesses for hard-to-test code with global state and dependencies
Automated test generation using static analysis and coverage tools
Test-driven refactoring strategy with incremental coverage improvement
CI/CD integration with coverage tracking and quality gates
Our Testing Methodology
Systematic test coverage for legacy systems
Characterisation Tests
Document existing behaviour by writing tests that capture what the system currently does. Perfect for undocumented legacy code where the code is the specification.
Strategic Testing
Golden master approach comparing outputs against approved snapshots, ideal for complex outputs like reports and API responses. Prioritise high-risk areas first, covering critical business logic before edge cases to build confidence incrementally.
Test Harnesses
Custom infrastructure to isolate and test difficult code. Break dependencies, stub globals, mock file systems, and create controllable test environments.
Characterisation Tests
Document existing behaviour by writing tests that capture what the system currently does. Perfect for undocumented legacy code where the code is the specification.
Strategic Testing
Golden master approach comparing outputs against approved snapshots, ideal for complex outputs like reports and API responses. Prioritise high-risk areas first, covering critical business logic before edge cases to build confidence incrementally.
Test Harnesses
Custom infrastructure to isolate and test difficult code. Break dependencies, stub globals, mock file systems, and create controllable test environments.
Why Test Legacy Code?
Real business value from test coverage
Confident Refactoring
80% faster changes
Change code without fear. Tests catch regressions immediately, allowing aggressive refactoring whilst preventing bugs from reaching production.
Continuous Delivery
10x deploy frequency
Automated tests enable CI/CD pipelines. Deploy multiple times per day with confidence instead of risky monthly releases.
Faster Onboarding
50% faster ramp-up
Tests document system behaviour. New developers understand code through executable examples instead of outdated docs.
Safe Upgrades
Zero-downtime migrations
Test suite validates PHP version upgrades. Migrate to PHP 8.4 confidently knowing breaking changes are caught by tests.
Confident Refactoring
80% faster changes
Change code without fear. Tests catch regressions immediately, allowing aggressive refactoring whilst preventing bugs from reaching production.
Continuous Delivery
10x deploy frequency
Automated tests enable CI/CD pipelines. Deploy multiple times per day with confidence instead of risky monthly releases.
Faster Onboarding
50% faster ramp-up
Tests document system behaviour. New developers understand code through executable examples instead of outdated docs.
Safe Upgrades
Zero-downtime migrations
Test suite validates PHP version upgrades. Migrate to PHP 8.4 confidently knowing breaking changes are caught by tests.
Related Legacy Services
Tests enable these modernisation strategies
Complementary Services
Extend testing capabilities across your stack
Ready to eliminate your technical debt?
Transform unmaintainable legacy code into a clean, modern codebase that your team can confidently build upon.