Working with legacy systems requires patience, strategy, and a non-judgmental approach. Key challenges include poorly normalized databases, lack of documentation and tests, and unclear system boundaries. Success comes from understanding the business domain first, talking to users, then applying remove/refactor/rebuild strategies. The strangler pattern helps modernize systems gradually while maintaining functionality. Monitoring becomes critical when automated tests are lacking, and dedicated team focus is essential since legacy work is unpredictable and time-consuming.
Sort: