The app that stalled halfway: finish it, fix it, or start over?

It was supposed to fix everything. A freelancer started building it, the budget ran out or the person who knew it left, and now it sits half-finished while the team works around it.

Short answerWhether to finish, fix or restart a half-built app depends on four things: whether anyone can still understand the code, whether it still matches how your team works today, whether the core is sound, and whether an off-the-shelf tool now does most of the job. Ignore what you've already spent. The only question is what it takes from here to get something your team actually uses.

Should what you've already spent affect the decision?

No. Money already spent is gone either way. The real question is what it will take, from here, to have something your team actually uses.

How do you decide whether to finish a half-built app?

• Does anyone still understand how it works? If the code is a mystery, finishing it may cost more than it looks.
• Does it still match how the work happens today? Plenty of stalled apps were designed for a process that has since changed.
• Is the core sound? Sometimes the hard part is done and what's missing is the last mile: logins, reports, one awkward screen.
• Could an existing tool do most of this now? Software has moved on. Something off the shelf may cover what you needed.

What are the options?

Finish it when the foundation is solid and the gap is small. Repair and reshape it when the bones are fine but parts no longer fit the work. Start over when it would take longer to understand than to rebuild, and say so plainly.

How does CloseEase approach a stalled app?

A Find starts with how your team works now, not with the code. Then we look at what was built, and recommend one of those three outcomes, with exactly what we'd build and a quote. If finishing isn't worth it, you'll hear that from us before you spend more.

The Find is CAD $750 for one process, fixed, and the written findings are yours to keep whatever you decide. If you go ahead within 60 days, the full $750 comes off the price of the job.

Questions people ask

Can a new developer finish an app someone else started?

Often, yes, if the code is reasonably organised and the original plan still fits the work. A short review of the code and how your team works now will tell you before you commit to a budget.

When is it better to start over?

When it would take longer to understand the existing code than to rebuild, or when the way your team works has changed so much that the original design no longer fits.

What do I need from the previous developer?

Access to the code, the hosting and any accounts the app uses, plus whatever notes or designs exist. Make sure the accounts are in your company's name, not theirs.

Could an off-the-shelf tool replace it?

Sometimes. Software has moved on, and a tool you can subscribe to may now cover most of what you set out to build. It's worth checking before spending more on custom work.