Software modernization for systems
that need to keep running
Qwasaa makes long-established software maintainable
and update-ready again — step by step, in a controlled way,
and without the risk of a big bang.
Many companies work with software that has reliably done its job for many years. It runs in machines, devices, platforms, control systems, or digital services. But while hardware, market requirements, and security standards continue to evolve, the software core often remains at an outdated level.
New features can only be integrated with considerable effort. Updates become risky. Security vulnerabilities can no longer be closed cleanly. And the knowledge of the original developers is often no longer available.
Qwasaa helps companies modernize long-established software in a controlled and step-by-step way. We create transparency around architecture and risks, stabilize what already exists, and make your software ready for further development, updates, and security requirements — without the risk of a big-bang rebuild.
When software still runs,
but no longer carries the system
“It still works” is often only half the truth when it comes to legacy software.
Many systems continue to run in daily operations, but become increasingly difficult to change. Small adjustments take disproportionately long. New interfaces turn into a stress test. Security updates are postponed because no one can reliably assess their side effects. This is where Qwasaa comes in. We do not simply replace existing software from scratch. Instead, we first make visible where the real risks are and which steps create the greatest value. This turns technical standstill into a structured and realistic path forward.
Typical situations in which companies come to Qwasaa
Changes take too long and are difficult to predict
The code runs, but every change becomes a risk. New features are delayed because dependencies are unclear or tests are missing. Teams spend more time securing changes and searching for errors than actually developing the system further. Qwasaa analyzes which areas are particularly sensitive to change, where technical debt slows down development, and how the software can become more predictable again.
Knowledge has been lost
In many cases, the software was developed years ago by people who are no longer with the company. Documentation is missing or outdated. Individual team members may still understand parts of the system, but no one has a full overview. We bring structure to long-established codebases, make dependencies visible, and create a foundation that allows teams to work with confidence again.
Security gaps and missing updates become a business risk
Outdated frameworks, unmaintained libraries, or old operating systems make software vulnerable. At the same time, updates cannot simply be applied because their impact on the overall system is unclear. Qwasaa modernizes software in a way that makes update capability, security requirements, and regulatory demands practically manageable again.
New features no longer fit into the old core
Automation, AI integrations, new interfaces, or digital services often cannot be integrated cleanly if the existing architecture is no longer viable. We assess which parts can be retained, which areas should be modernized, and where targeted refactoring creates more value than a complete rebuild.
What Qwasaa Specifically Covers
To prevent modernization from becoming an uncontrollable large-scale project, Qwasaa combines analysis, strategy, implementation, and quality assurance into a clear process. Every measure contributes to making your software more stable, more secure, and easier to develop further.
Qwasaa integrates analysis, strategy, implementation, and quality assurance into a clear process. Every step contributes to making your software more stable, more secure, and easier to maintain and enhance. The result is a robust foundation for more reliable releases, improved maintainability, and greater flexibility.
Successful software modernization does not begin with action for action’s sake. It begins with prioritization. We develop a roadmap that brings together technical risks, business requirements, and available resources. Instead of a risky big-bang rebuild, we create an approach based on manageable modernization packages. This keeps your software deliverable while it is improved step by step.
Qwasaa combines tool-assisted code migration with targeted manual adaptation. We modernize code, software structures, and technical foundations so that your application becomes more maintainable, more testable, and easier to develop further. Where relevant, we support migrations such as moving from Qt 5 to Qt 6 or replacing outdated technologies. Throughout the process, we focus on preserving existing functionality and avoiding unnecessary disruption to ongoing development.
In many long-established applications, the user interface is closely connected to the underlying system logic. Modernization must therefore not only work technically; it must also preserve familiar workflows for users. Qwasaa supports the porting and modernization of user interfaces without unnecessarily changing proven user workflows. The goal is a clean technical foundation with the highest possible UI fidelity.
Modernization is only successful when changes are reliably secured. We use static code analysis, automated tests, regression tests, and — where useful — AI-supported approaches for test generation or UI porting. This ensures that modernization does not become a black box, but remains verifiable and controlled.
Outdated software is not only harder to maintain, but often harder to secure.
Qwasaa modernizes software with a focus on secure updates, maintained dependencies, traceable changes, and compliance requirements that can actually be fulfilled. Cybersecurity is not treated as an add-on, but as an integral part of modernization. We consider cybersecurity and compliance in a way that helps make standards such as the EU Cyber Resilience Act manageable. In the end, this does not create an isolated technical sub-project. It creates a reliable foundation for safer releases, better maintainability, and greater room for action.
What you gain from software modernization
Step-by-step software modernization creates a software foundation that can be developed further with greater confidence. Your team can implement changes more safely, without having to fear unexpected side effects with every intervention. At the same time, dependency on individual knowledge is reduced. Better structure, understandable architecture, and documented decisions make knowledge available in the system and across the team — not only in the heads of individual people.
Ongoing operations also become more secure. Update capability, testability, and clear responsibilities help close security vulnerabilities systematically and control risks more effectively. When dependencies are clearer and changes are better secured, releases can be planned more reliably and carried out with less effort. Software modernization does not automatically mean rebuilding everything from scratch. In many cases, it is more economically reasonable to modernize the existing core, in a targeted way and extend the lifecycle of both software and hardware.
If you would like to understand what step-by-step modernization could mean for your specific system, we will analyze the current situation together.
Industries where software modernization is particularly critical
The more closely software is connected to products, devices, or regulated processes, the riskier technical debt becomes. In exactly these environments, modernization must be controlled, traceable, and carried out without unnecessary operational disruption.
Engineering and equipment manufacturing:
When hardware has been modernized but the software core can no longer keep up, every new interface becomes a challenge. Qwasaa helps manufacturers modernize long-established software structures, reduce technical risks, and make systems maintainable and extendable again.
Medical Technology, Aerospace Industry and infrastructure:
In regulated environments, it is not enough for software to “somehow work.” Changes must be traceable, safe, and controlled. We help set up modernization in a way that considers stability, quality assurance, and regulatory requirements from the very beginning.
Consumer goods and manufacturers with digital services:
New digital services, app integrations, or regular software updates increase the pressure on existing systems. When the old core slows down new features, Qwasaa creates the technical foundation that makes innovation possible again — without unnecessarily putting the existing system at risk. Especially in these industries, software has long become a decisive factor in how quickly products can be developed further, security requirements can be met, and customers can be retained over the long term.
Technology expertise with a clear purpose
Qwasaa does not use technology for its own sake. Our work is guided by what your software needs to achieve: run reliably, remain secure, stay maintainable, enable updates, and support new requirements in a controlled way. Our areas of expertise include C, C++, Qt, and C#, as well as toolchains for analysis, migration, porting, refactoring, and test automation.
The right technology decision always follows from your starting point: the existing system, the business requirements, and the goal of making your software manageable over the long term.
How modernization with Qwasaa works
To keep modernization predictable, our collaboration follows a clear sequence: Discovery, Preparation, Migration, Testing & Optimization. This gives everyone involved clarity on what is being analyzed, decided, implemented, and secured.
We analyze your existing software, architecture, critical dependencies, known issues, and business goals. The result is a clear picture of where you stand and which risks should be prioritized.
We define migration paths, modernization packages, technical prerequisites, and quality criteria. This creates an approach that is understandable for both technical teams and decision-makers.
We modernize code, structures, interfaces, or user interfaces incrementally. Your system remains deliverable as far as possible. Risks are not moved to one major deadline, but controlled continuously throughout the process
Every modernization effort needs reliable quality assurance. We examine functionality, performance, regressions, security aspects, and maintainability. This does not simply result in new code, but in a more stable foundation for the years ahead.
Modernization should strengthen your team, not create permanent dependency. That is why we document decisions, establish standards, and support your developers in continuing to work safely with the modernized foundation. If you are facing modernization, but the scope, risk, or first step is still unclear, an initial consultation is often the most meaningful starting point.
Why do companies work with Qwasaa?
Software modernization takes more than technical implementation. It requires an understanding of long-established systems, economic priorities, and the reality of ongoing product development.
Experience with long-established software landscapes:
Qwasaa knows systems that have been extended over many years, are business-critical, and cannot simply be replaced. We understand that modernization during ongoing operations works differently from building a new system from scratch.
Analysis, migration, and implementation combined:
We do not stop at concepts. Qwasaa combines technical assessment, modernization strategy, code migration, refactoring, UI porting, and quality assurance into a practical end-to-end process.
Step-by-step modernization instead of big-bang risk:
A complete rebuild may sound attractive, but it is often expensive, lengthy, and risky. We modernize where it creates real impact — in a controlled, prioritized way, and with measurable intermediate results.
This creates a modernization approach that is not only technically convincing, but also internally understandable and economically justifiable.
Let’s talk about your software modernization
If your software is still running, but updates, new features, or security requirements are becoming increasingly difficult, now is the right time to take a clear look at the existing system. Qwasaa helps you turn long-established software back into a stable, secure, and evolvable foundation.
Creating clarity together
Together, we’ll assess where your software stands today, identify which risks should be prioritized, and determine what the next realistic step is.
Frank Rub
Chief Executive Officer
Sebastian Kratz
Head of Innovation
Let’s get started
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Our home is on the 13th floor of the Jentower, in the heart of the beautiful city of Jena on the Saale River.
Do drop by – we look forward to seeing you.
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