For CTOs, CIOs, and engineering leaders running aging .NET platforms
Legacy .NET Modernization Assessment
ShamuWare evaluates aging .NET and Windows applications and produces a practical, prioritized modernization roadmap — so you can make a confident decision instead of guessing.
Indicative investment
$3,500–$7,500
Typical duration
2–3 weeks
Next step
A short discovery call
Who this is for
Built for teams carrying real modernization risk
This assessment is designed for US companies of roughly 20–500 employees that own or maintain business-critical software built with .NET Framework, ASP.NET, WPF, WinForms, Xamarin, or other aging Microsoft or custom enterprise platforms — typically in financial and professional services, manufacturing, healthcare and life sciences, logistics, insurance, or independent software vendors.
Good fit
You own a specific application, have some internal context on it, and want an independent, architect-led evaluation before committing budget to a rewrite or a cloud migration.
Also a good fit
Your internal team is capable but stretched thin, and you want senior architectural judgment applied to a specific, high-stakes modernization decision.
Not a fit
You're looking for contract developers to staff into an existing team. ShamuWare is an architecture and outcomes consultancy, not a staffing provider — see the FAQ below.
What it addresses
The questions that usually can't be answered internally
Teams close to an application every day often can't get an unbiased read on its real condition. The assessment exists to answer, with evidence: how risky is this system, what would modernizing it actually take, and what should happen first.
What you receive
Potential deliverables
Exact deliverables are scoped during discovery based on your application and goals. A typical assessment includes:
- Current architecture and dependency review
- Code-quality and maintainability findings
- Security, performance, deployment, and operational risks
- Modernization alternatives and tradeoffs
- Recommended target architecture
- Phased migration roadmap
- Indicative schedule and investment range
- Cloud, API, mobile, data, and AI-enablement opportunities
- Executive findings presentation
How it works
A four-stage process
Discover
Understand the application, its business role, constraints, and goals.
Assess
Review architecture, dependencies, risks, delivery practices, and modernization barriers.
Design
Compare realistic modernization paths and define a target architecture.
Roadmap
Provide prioritized phases, decisions, risks, schedule, and investment guidance.
A pathway, not a leap
Modernization doesn't automatically mean rewriting everything
The right strategy depends on the application. Possible directions include:
Why ShamuWare
Not a staffing shop. Not an offshore dev factory.
ShamuWare is a focused boutique consultancy led directly by its founder, Shams Mukhtar — more than 25 years of software engineering and solution architecture experience, applied directly to your assessment rather than handed off to a rotating bench of contractors.
Engagement options, once the roadmap is delivered
- AI or modernization proof of concept — $10,000–$25,000
- Larger phased implementation — $25,000+
- Fractional Chief Architect — $3,500–$8,000/month
Final scope and pricing are determined after discovery.
Frequently asked
Assessment FAQ
Does modernization always require a complete rewrite?
No. Most engagements use strategies such as stabilize-and-extend, incremental refactoring, modularization, API enablement, or strangler-pattern migration. A full rewrite is only recommended when it is genuinely justified.
Can ShamuWare assess only one application?
Yes. The assessment is scoped to a single application by default, which keeps it fast and focused. Multi-application engagements are scoped separately after discovery.
Can you work with our internal engineering team?
Yes. Most assessments work directly with the team that owns the application, combining their institutional knowledge with independent architectural review.
Can WPF or WinForms applications be modernized incrementally?
In most cases, yes. The assessment evaluates whether incremental modernization, a desktop-to-web or desktop-to-hybrid strategy, or targeted component replacement fits your application before recommending a full rewrite.
Can AI capabilities be added to an existing .NET platform?
Often, yes. The assessment can identify realistic AI-enablement opportunities — such as retrieval-augmented generation or agentic workflows — that integrate with your existing platform. See the AI Enablement page for details.
What is included in the Modernization Assessment?
Potential deliverables include an architecture and dependency review, code-quality and maintainability findings, security/performance/deployment/operational risk findings, modernization alternatives and tradeoffs, a recommended target architecture, a phased migration roadmap, an indicative schedule and investment range, and an executive findings presentation.
How long does an assessment take?
Approximately two to three weeks, depending on scope and how quickly access and documentation are made available.
What application access is normally required?
Typically read access to source code and repository history, architecture or deployment documentation if available, and time with one or two people who know the application. Exact access needs are confirmed during discovery.
What happens after the roadmap is delivered?
You own the roadmap and can act on it however you choose. Many clients continue with ShamuWare for phased implementation, a proof of concept, or fractional architectural support, but there is no obligation to do so.
Does ShamuWare provide staff augmentation?
No. ShamuWare is primarily an architecture- and outcomes-focused consultancy, not a commodity staffing or résumé-submission company. Engagements are scoped around a defined outcome, not headcount.
Discuss your application with an architect, not a salesperson.
Bring your application's context to a short discovery call. No fake urgency, no countdown, no obligation.