Rachel Dillon: Tech Debt Management for Move With Us App Growth

Our Solution

PixelForce approached the Move With Us modernisation project with a structured methodology designed to improve performance and stability without disrupting the existing user base. The team began with a comprehensive technology audit and detailed cost-benefit analysis, systematically evaluating the technical debt accumulated in the codebase. This analysis prioritised issues based on their direct impact on user experience, system reliability, and future scalability. Rather than attempting a complete rewrite - a risky approach that often introduces new bugs and delays product development - the team identified specific areas where targeted improvements would deliver immediate returns. High-priority issues included outdated framework components, inefficient database queries, and poorly optimised code paths that triggered excessive API calls and memory consumption.

The first phase focused on performance optimisation at the database layer. Many of the app's slowest operations stemmed from inefficient queries that retrieved far more data than necessary. The team implemented proper database optimisation strategies, including appropriate indexing, query restructuring, and caching layers using Redis to reduce load on primary database systems. These improvements directly addressed user-facing delays when browsing workout libraries or checking class schedules. Load testing revealed that the app struggled under concurrent user loads that frequently occurred during promotional periods. The team reinforced the infrastructure with improved load balancing and implemented auto-scaling capabilities to handle traffic spikes automatically, ensuring that promotional campaigns could reach large audiences without triggering cascading failures.

The team conducted extensive refactoring of core application code, moving from outdated framework versions to modern, well-maintained libraries and tools. This process involved careful code quality improvements, applying clean code principles to reduce complexity and improve maintainability. Rather than replacing the entire codebase in one massive effort, refactoring proceeded incrementally, targeting one feature area at a time. This approach allowed continuous testing and verification, minimising the risk that changes would introduce new bugs. The team implemented comprehensive automated testing frameworks throughout the codebase, creating unit tests, integration tests, and end-to-end tests that verify core functionality remains stable across updates. Automated tests became a safety net, catching regressions before they reached users.

A critical component of the modernisation was establishing proper API documentation and code repository practices. The previous codebase lacked documentation explaining how components interacted, why certain architectural decisions were made, and what dependencies existed between systems. The team created comprehensive documentation that made the codebase transparent and navigable for current developers and future team members. Version control practices were strengthened, implementing disciplined branching strategies and code review processes that prevent poor-quality code from entering production. This documentation investment pays dividends continuously - new developers onboard faster, changes are implemented with greater confidence, and the team can make architectural improvements without fear of breaking hidden dependencies.

Security enhancements formed another essential pillar of the modernisation. The team implemented secure coding practices throughout the codebase, addressed known vulnerabilities in dependencies, and reinforced encryption protocols protecting sensitive user data. All user authentication flows were updated to use industry-standard approaches, and SSL certificates were properly configured across all endpoints. The team conducted penetration testing to identify and remediate security weaknesses before they could be exploited. These improvements were essential given the sensitivity of fitness data, payment information, and personal metrics that the app processes.

The team deployed a robust monitoring and logging infrastructure using industry-standard tools to track application health in real-time. This visibility allowed the team to identify performance issues, error spikes, or unusual usage patterns immediately - often before users noticed problems. Application performance monitoring (APM) tools provided detailed insights into where time was spent during API requests and complex operations. Centralised logging aggregated events from distributed systems, making it possible to trace requests across the full stack and diagnose issues affecting users.

The modernisation delivered measurable improvements across all key metrics. App performance improved 40 percent, with startup times, class booking operations, and video loading all responding significantly faster. User satisfaction increased 30 percent, reflecting improvements in reliability and responsiveness. Most significantly, crash rates reduced by 50 percent, creating a more stable experience that users could depend on. These improvements established a foundation supporting Rachel Dillon's continued growth - the Move With Us app could now handle the traffic spikes associated with her social media campaigns and product launches without degrading under load. The modernised codebase became an asset rather than a liability, positioning the team to continue building features and expanding functionality without accumulating new technical debt.