PHP Upgrade Service

Our Process

A structured, repeatable approach to upgrading legacy PHP systems without disruption.

Code Audit

Comprehensive analysis of your codebase, PHP version usage, deprecated function calls, dependency versions, framework state, and infrastructure setup.

Identify Breaking Changes

Map every breaking change between your current PHP version and the target. Deprecated functions, removed extensions, type system changes, and behaviour differences are catalogued with severity ratings.

Incremental Upgrade Plan

A concrete plan with defined milestones. Each PHP version step is planned with specific code changes, dependency updates, and testing criteria.

Test Safely

Each increment is tested in isolation. Automated tests, static analysis, and manual verification confirm compatibility before proceeding.

Deploy with Zero Downtime

Staged deployment with rollback capability. Canary or blue-green deployment depending on your infrastructure. Post-deployment monitoring confirms stability.

Risks of Not Upgrading

Staying on an outdated PHP version is not a neutral decision. The risk compounds over time.

Security Vulnerabilities

PHP 5.6 has been EOL since December 2018. PHP 7.4 since November 2022. Every new vulnerability discovered for these versions remains permanently unpatched. Your system is exposed to exploits with public documentation.

Unsupported Hosting

Hosting providers are dropping PHP 5.x and 7.x support. When your provider forces an upgrade, you will not have time for a controlled migration.

Hiring Difficulty

Developers do not want to work on outdated PHP. Recruiting becomes harder and more expensive. Your team's morale suffers.

Performance Issues

PHP 8.x is significantly faster than PHP 5.x and 7.x. The JIT compiler, preloading, and internal optimisations deliver measurable performance improvements.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a PHP upgrade take?

Typical upgrades take 2–8 weeks depending on codebase size, PHP version gap, dependency complexity, and test coverage. We provide a timeline estimate after the initial code audit.

Can you upgrade PHP without downtime?

Yes. We use staged deployments with rollback capability. Blue-green or canary deployment strategies allow us to switch traffic to the upgraded system only after verification.

What breaks when upgrading PHP?

Common issues include removed functions (mysql_*, each(), ereg), changed type coercion behaviour, stricter error handling, and incompatible Composer dependencies. We identify all breaking changes during the audit phase.

Do you support legacy frameworks?

Yes. We have experience upgrading systems built on Laravel 4, Symfony 2, CodeIgniter 2, and other legacy framework versions. Framework upgrades are coordinated alongside the PHP version migration.

What does an assessment cost?

The initial assessment is a technical conversation at no cost. We review your system details and provide a concrete scope, timeline, and pricing estimate before any paid work begins.