How We Diagnose and Fix Your Failing Application

Andy Henson

When core company applications start failing, it’s rarely just one problem. Errors seem to multiply, causing slowdowns and complaints. As for growth, it’s simply not possible. At Foxsoft, we specialize in application rescue projects, particularly for Ruby on Rails systems that have been neglected, outgrown, or pushed beyond their limits.

So, let’s take a look at exactly how we diagnose and fix failing applications, so you know what to expect when you engage our Ruby on Rails services.

The Foxsoft Approach to Diagnosing and Fixing a Failing Ruby on Rails Application

Understanding the real business problem

Before we do anything else, we focus on understanding why the application matters to your business. Is downtime costing revenue? Are developers afraid to deploy changes? Are users abandoning the product?

We speak with everyone related to the application and the projects it supports, so we can fully understand priorities, risks, and timelines. This ensures our Ruby on Rails support is aligned with your business goals, not just technical perfection.

Technical health check and code audit

Next, we perform a deep technical audit. This is where many hidden issues surface. We examine:

Ruby on Rails versions
Dependency health and outdated gems
Code quality and architectural patterns
Test coverage and deployment pipelines
Security vulnerabilities and performance bottlenecks

For older systems, a Ruby on Rails upgrade is often the only option, because running unsupported versions of Rails introduces a range of risks, while making future development difficult. Our audit clearly identifies what must be upgraded now versus what can be phased over time.

Stabilisation and risk reduction

In many rescue projects, the application is fragile. Small changes cause big breakages. So, before attempting to introduce new features, we stabilise what’s there. This often includes improving test coverage, fixing critical bugs, and simplifying overly complex areas of the codebase. As part of our Ruby on Rails maintenance approach, we aim to make the system predictable again, so releases stop being stressful.

If needed, we also address infrastructure issues such as slow servers, misconfigured hosting, or missing monitoring.

Strategic Ruby on Rails upgrade

A successful Ruby on Rails upgrade is about more than just bumping version numbers. We carefully plan incremental changes and continuous validation.

We upgrade Rails, Ruby, and key dependencies in a controlled way, focusing on functionality throughout. This helps us to reduce risk while we work to improve performance, better security, and access to newer Rails features.

Because we’ve handled many complex upgrades, we know how to avoid common pitfalls that derail timelines and budgets.

Performance, security, and scalability improvements

Once the application is stable and up to date, we optimise it. This includes improving database queries, background job processing, and response times. We also address security best practices to protect both your business and your users.

Our Ruby on Rails services don’t stop at “working again.” We aim to make your application faster, safer, and ready to scale.

Ongoing Ruby on Rails support and maintenance

Rescue projects shouldn’t end with a handover and crossed fingers. We offer ongoing Ruby on Rails support to keep your application healthy long term. This includes proactive maintenance, dependency updates, performance monitoring, and expert advice when new requirements arise. With the right support in place, your application won’t slip back into crisis mode.

Why Foxsoft?

At Foxsoft, we live and breathe Ruby on Rails. Whether it’s upgrading, fixing or improving applications, that’s all we do. But we do it transparently and methodically, keeping our customers constantly in the loop, while focusing on building the best results.

If your application feels fragile, outdated, or impossible to change, we can help bring it back under control and make it an asset again, not a liability.

Feel that your company could benefit from working with Foxsoft? Get in touch.