5 First Steps to Take in a Newly Acquired Project

What is the first thing to do in a project that has been taken over?

In the software development process, encountering inherited projects is inevitable. Taking over a project delivered by a previous developer or agency can be daunting at first. However, with the right initial strategy, you can make this process controlled and efficient. In my more than 25 years of field experience, I have successfully completed numerous inherited projects from the ground up. In this article, I describe the initial steps to take when inheriting a project, from the perspective of both the business owner and the technical team.

1. Completely Document the Current Status of the Project

When you take over a project, the first step is to get answers to questions like: what is this system, how does it work, and who does it affect ? Remember that documentation is often incomplete or outdated.

Things to do:

• Understanding the software architecture: Which technologies are being used in the project, the database schema, external connections (APIs, payment systems, etc.)
• Checking database backups: When was the last backup taken? Is the backup process automated? Is a rollback possible if a problem occurs?
• Gathering server and hosting information: Who owns the domain name? Is the SSL certificate valid? Are the server resources sufficient?
• Identifying customer lists and active users: How many people are using the project? If it's an e-commerce site, what is the daily sales volume?

View this documentation work not as an assignment, but as life-saving insurance . Get a complete picture of the current situation before making any changes.

2. Code Review and Risk Analysis

After understanding the documentation, it's time to look at the code itself. For your non-technician business partners: this stage is like having an architect inspect a house after purchasing it.

Things to do:

• Technical Debt: How many quick fixes are there in the code? Are there temporary patches that could cause problems in the future?
• Security vulnerabilities: Is user data securely stored? Is the database protected against SQL injection and XSS attacks?
• Performance issues: Is the site slow? Are database queries optimized?
• Dependencies and libraries: Are the software packages being used up-to-date? Are you using a deprecated version?

After this review, create a list of issues that require immediate action versus those that can be resolved in the medium to long term . For example, a security vulnerability might be urgent, but a code style fix might be sufficient.

3. Testing in the Production Environment

Most acquired projects involve differences between the development and live environments. Understanding this is critical.

• Database and file system check: Which files and folders does the live system require write permissions for?
• Examining the log files: What errors occurred in the last month, and how frequently?
• Backup and restore tests: A disaster scenario: can you restore from backup?
• Automation and cron jobs: Are there scheduled tasks? Do they run sequentially?

During these steps, simply observe without making any changes. Do not lift your mouth yet.

4. Transfer of Knowledge from the Previous Developer or Agency

If possible, have a two-to-three-hour meeting before or after you take over the project. There are things that aren't written in the documentation—for example, "this admin account is confidential, don't give it to anyone."

Questions that need to be asked:

• What is the most problematic part of the project?
• What are the most frequently requested changes by the customer?
• Are there any known bugs in the code?
• Who are the business partners or service providers (API users, etc.)?
• Were there any plans for future releases?

If contact with the previous team is not possible, at least check forum posts, issue trackers, or customer feedback.

5. Establishing a Communication Protocol and Issue Management System

When taking over the project, organize not only the technical aspects but also the organizational aspects. Establish a clear communication channel with your client or business partner.

• Who is the contact person for emergencies?
• How can I report a bug? (email, issue tracker, Slack, etc.)
• When will change requests and updates be released?
• Will there be weekly or monthly check-in meetings?

Taking over a project is an opportunity to build customer trust from the outset. You shouldn't make hasty and pessimistic decisions. Instead, build a long-term relationship by laying a solid foundation.

Do not make immediate changes to the acquired project.

The most common mistake: The new developer or agency immediately attempts to rewrite the inherited project. This approach is risky and leads to unnecessary costs. As I mentioned in our digital transformation cost planning , hastily changing systems can lead to setbacks.

Instead, it is more sensible to establish a stable foundation , identify risks, and set priorities.

Projects acquired in Alanya and Antalya.

In our region (Alanya, Antalya, and the Mediterranean Region), tourism, hotel, e-commerce, and real estate businesses frequently find themselves having to change agencies for their projects. At Alanya IT Services, I handle these kinds of takeovers regularly. The most common problem I see is that instead of delivering the project as it was, the previous agency hands it over to the new one. Documents may be missing, passwords unknown, or even the code may be unworkable.

If you are facing a similar situation and are in the area, you can check out our projects and past work on our Instagram page . I have a lot of experience with takeover projects.

Conclusion

Properly launching a project you've taken over sets the tone for the rest of the software development journey. Start by understanding the current situation, without rushing. Code review, risk analysis, testing, and establishing communication protocols should be the focus of the first few weeks. This way, you'll build a strong relationship with your client or partner and minimize future problems.