TeraTech

TeraTech TeraTech is the ColdFusion development specialist: Custom ColdFusion apps on budget and on time, gua

When a ColdFusion project is out of control or going to miss its deadline, we are brought in to put out the fire, get the project on track and get it finished on time. When a ColdFusion server crashes, we are called in to resuscitate it and bring it back to life. (Ideally, we are brought in before crashes happen!)

Our differentiation is that we guarantee to finish your project on time and on budget. We can do this because we ask the right questions of all of the organization stakeholders up front and make sure that both TeraTech and our client understand the same vision of success. We believe in bringing issues to light immediately as opposed to burying them. We understand that we are not a fit for everyone and every project. We help our clients break projects down into manageable pieces to that can then be delivered on budget and on time. The goal of every project is to hand over a program that is maintainable and sustainable over the long term.

"One does not simply let AI write your   code." - AI anxious CF dev Boromir. Or so a lot of CF devs tell me. They’ve hea...
10/15/2026

"One does not simply let AI write your code." - AI anxious CF dev Boromir. Or so a lot of CF devs tell me. They’ve heard the vibe-coded horror stories and now treat AI like the One Ring. Powerful, sure. But put it on and next thing you know you’re hissing “my preciousss” at a 4,000 line CFC nobody understands.

So I asked CF and AI coding expert Raymond Camden on the CF Alive podcast (ep 144) how to get past the fear. Yes I got a Star Wars guy onto a hobbit-themed post. Don’t tell him. ;-)

What Ray shared:

1) Skills are your Fellowship. Write down your coding style, your steps and your guardrails so the AI isn’t wandering off to Mordor on its own.

2) Not ready to let AI code? Fine. Use it to plan, test, review and break writer’s block. Even Frodo had help carrying the load.

3) Hallucinations are Gollum. Unit tests are Gandalf on the bridge. Bad code shall not pass.

4) Ask a different AI to critique the code. A second wizard never hurts.

5) Still read some of the generated code yourself. Trust but verify, Samwise style.

6) Ask your AI agent how you could use it better. It might surprise you.

We also got into Adobe’s CF MCP docs server, AI as a kind of super compiler for CFML, and what happens to entry-level dev jobs now.

Ray’s big point is that with good guardrails in place AI has gotten way easier to trust over the last year. Less Ringwraith, more Elven blade.

Shownotes, video, audio and transcript link in the first comment.

So where are you on this? Wearing the Ring or still hiding it in an envelope in the Shire?

Pen Testing Your CF App: What to Expect and How to PrepareHiring someone to attack your own CF app may sound strange. Bu...
10/13/2026

Pen Testing Your CF App: What to Expect and How to Prepare

Hiring someone to attack your own CF app may sound strange. But that is what a pe*******on test does. And it does it for a good reason. A skilled security tester can find weak spots before a real attacker does. Think of it as sending a scout ahead before the orcs reach the gates.

For a CIO, the hard part often comes before the test. What will the tester touch? Could the test break production? What does the team need to do? What happens if the tester finds a serious problem hiding in the CF app?

👉 If your CF app needs a security check, explore TeraTech’s ColdFusion security services https://teratech.com/coldfusion-security/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=social_CTA1_security_167. We help teams find weak spots, fix risky code, and prepare old CF apps for security testing.

First, agree on the test plan

A good pen test starts with a clear plan.

Decide which CF apps, APIs, websites, and servers the tester can test. Set the test dates. List any systems that are off-limits. Even a fellowship needs to know where it is going before the journey begins.

You also need clear rules for production.

Some tests are safe to run there. Other deeper pen tests should run in on your staging server. Important systems may need limits on traffic, data changes, or user access.

Write down the rules before the test starts.

Give testers enough access

A tester should see more than your login page.

Create test accounts for the main user types. These may include regular users, managers, and admins. If your CF app has APIs, give the tester test keys and basic instructions. Even Gandalf had trouble with locked doors.

This helps the tester find problems that only appear after login.

They may find broken access rules, weak sessions, or data that regular users should not see. They may also find old CF admin tools that no one uses anymore.

Tell the tester about your most important business tasks, too. A checkout page needs more care than an old staff list.

Expect more than a scan
A security scanner can find useful problems. A good CF pen test goes further. In other words, a scanner can point at the shadows. A good tester finds out what is hiding in them.

The tester may check:

* Login controls
* User sessions
* File uploads
* API access
* Old web pages
* User input
* User permissions

The tester may also see if small problems can work together.

One small problem may not seem serious. But two or three problems together may let an attacker get deep into the CF app.

Your team should watch the app during the test. Logs can show what the tester reached and how the app handled the test.

Prepare for the report
The final report should help your team fix problems.

It should explain:

* What the tester found
* Proof of the problem
* How the problem could hurt the business
* How soon you should fix it

Your CF developers should know where each problem is and what they need to do.

Fix the most serious problems first. These may include open admin access or leaks of private data.

Put lower-risk work into your normal maintenance plan. Some fixes may need code changes. Others may need a CF update, server setting, or access rule.

Do not let the report sit unread in a folder.

Test the fixes again

A CF fix needs to be checked. After your team fixes the main problems, ask the tester to test them again. This check can find weak fixes and new problems caused by the changes. It also gives the CIO a clear answer when the board, an auditor, or a customer asks what happened.

You can say:

The app was tested. The CF team fixed the serious problems. The fixes were tested again.

That is much better than saying, “We ran a scan last year. Steve may have the report.”

Pen testing works best as part of regular CF security work.

Update the CF platform. Review the code. Remove old access points. Then ask a skilled tester to try the locks.

You may not like everything they find.

That is why you hired them.

🌟Onward!

In the next issue of the CF Alive newsletter, we’ll explore how to keep your legacy apps secure with the Zero Login principle.

P.S. If your CF app is heading toward a pen test, send us a message at https://teratech.com/contact/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=social_167 or DM. TeraTech’s ColdFusion team can help prepare the app, fix the findings, and close unsafe access points.

Cybersecurity Awareness Month: Your ColdFusion Patching and EOL PlaybookCybersecurity Awareness Month is a good time to ...
10/08/2026

Cybersecurity Awareness Month: Your ColdFusion Patching and EOL Playbook

Cybersecurity Awareness Month is a good time to ask: How old is the CF version running our critical apps?

Old ColdFusion can run for years. That is part of its charm. It is also how a server quietly drifts past support.

Until one day, a security issue pops up. Suddenly, the C-suite wants answers. What version of CF are we running? Is it still supported? Is it patched? How fast can the team act? It's exactly the wrong time to be asking those questions. Here's how to get ahead of the orcs trying to crash down your gates.

👉 If your CF patching or upgrade plan has gathered dust, explore TeraTech’s ColdFusion security services https://teratech.com/coldfusion-security/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=social_CTA1_security_166. We help teams patch, secure, and maintain legacy CF apps before a security issue turns into a full quest.

Step 1: Know what you are running

Make a list of what you use. Include your ColdFusion version, updates, Java version, operating system, web server, database drivers, and key third-party libraries. Then check what still has support.

A CF server can look healthy while sitting on old software underneath. Java may have moved on. The operating system may face its own end-of-life date. A forgotten library may carry a known flaw.

One old stone in the wall can still leave a gap for an orc.

Step 2: Treat patches as normal maintenance

Have a clear plan for every security patch. Test it first. Use a short checklist. Pick someone to own the work. And have a rollback plan.

Test the real parts of the CF app. Logins. Payments. Reports. Scheduled tasks. APIs. File uploads. Whatever keeps your business moving. Then patch production while the test results still mean something.

Waiting six months can make the next patch harder. Several changes pile up. Java versions drift. Dependencies change. Nobody remembers why Gandalf left a note saying, “Do not upgrade this driver.”

Small, regular moves make the road much easier.

Step 3: Know your end-of-life dates

Once a CF version reaches end of life, the risk starts to grow. New security fixes may no longer arrive. Old Java and operating systems can add more risk. Your security team may also start asking harder questions.

Note: ColdFusion 2021: Core support ended last year. Final extended support concludes in November 2026. If you need help to upgrade then explore TeraTech’s ColdFusion security services https://teratech.com/coldfusion-security/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=social_CTA1_security_166

A useful plan begins months before the deadline. Test the newer CF version. Check old code and integrations. Fix weak spots. Practice the deployment. Make sure you can roll back.

Step 4: Protect the app around CF too

CF is only one part of the app. Check Java, the web server, and database access. Check operating system patches, TLS settings, admin access, and third-party packages too. Also remove things you no longer use. Old test sites, forgotten admin pages, unused datasources, and abandoned code create extra doors to guard.

Mordor does not need the front gate if somebody left a side door open in 2017.

Give the CIO one simple view

Your CIO should be able to answer four questions without calling three developers.

1. What CF versions do we run?
2. Are they fully patched?
3. When does support end?
4. What is our upgrade plan?

Patch often. Track support dates. Test upgrades early. Give old apps the care that lets them keep doing useful work without becoming ancient ruins. Cybersecurity Awareness Month lasts one month. Your CF patch plan needs to work all year.

🌟Onward!

In the next issue of the CF Alive newsletter, we’ll explore pen testing CF apps.

P.S. If your CF patch backlog looks like something buried beneath Moria, send us a message https://teratech.com/contact/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=social_166 or DM. TeraTech’s ColdFusion team can help review your versions, patch the weak spots, and build a safer upgrade path.

What if your new   dev could just ask your legacy CF code a question? And get a real answer. No more three hours of grep...
10/06/2026

What if your new dev could just ask your legacy CF code a question? And get a real answer. No more three hours of grep or asking colleagues.

One does not simply walk into a legacy CF app.

So Monte Chan built a tool for it. He calls it a poor man's JARVIS (h/t to Ironman's AI assistant). It is written in CF. And you don't need an Arc Reactor budget to run it!

On the new CF Alive podcast episode 143, Monte shows how he coded it.
1) Walk the repo and cut the code into chunks. Use whole functions, not random bits of text.
2) Write a short summary of each chunk. Say what it does, where it lives, and what calls it.
3) Store it in a vector DB like Qdrant.
4) Ask in plain English. The LLM answers from your real code, not from a guess.

Adobe CF 2026 has the AI, vector store and MCP parts built in now. So you don't need Python on the side. This open-source project is a great demo of how to use these new ColdFusion AI features. :-)

For CIOs the big win is not just the tech. New hires learn the code faster. Audit questions take minutes, not days. And you are less stuck when your one CF guru heads off to Mordor on a One Ring quest. Or just on vacation.

You can also run it on Ollama on your own box. Your precious (code) never leaves the building.

Montes's sample code is on his GitHub. The link is in the show notes. See the first comment for those and to watch the episode.

Would you trust a JARVIS AI to show a new hire around your old CF app?

We lost a   legend in David Watts last week. He died a few weeks after an accident. He was very helpful to other CFers r...
09/30/2026

We lost a legend in David Watts last week. He died a few weeks after an accident. He was very helpful to other CFers right from the early days on CF-talk list, through Adobe forums and other channels. He was a great speaker at CFUnited, Adobe MAX, CF Summits and more.

He was a coauthor on the early CF Web Application Construction Kit books that many of us learned CF from.

He cofounded FigLeaf with Steve Drucker and spoke at many of the DCCFUG meetings at their office. Steve wrote a moving eulogy of Dave on Facebook - link in comments.

If you have memories or pix of Dave, please share in the comments.

CF Summit East 2026: The ColdFusion Fellowship Heads Back to the DC areaPack the laptop. Find your conference shoes. The...
09/29/2026

CF Summit East 2026: The ColdFusion Fellowship Heads Back to the DC area

Pack the laptop. Find your conference shoes. The ColdFusion fellowship is gathering again.

Adobe ColdFusion Summit East 2026 lands in Reston, Virginia, on October 29th. Just outside Wash DC and on the metro, it is easy to find. There is also an onsite workshop on October 28th. If you work with CF, this is a great chance to step away from your code and see what's next.

And yes, there will be humans there. Real ones. Not just AI agents.

👉 If Summit East gets you thinking about what your CF app needs next, explore TeraTech’s ColdFusion development services https://teratech.com/coldfusion-development/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=social_CTA1_development_165. We help teams turn good ideas into CF apps that are safer, faster, and easier to maintain.

Two tracks, two different quests

This year, Summit East splits into two tracks.

The Adobe ColdFusion Core track covers the CF work teams do every day. Think performance, security, language updates, and ways to keep old apps healthy.

The AI in Web Development track looks at the newer side of CF. You'll learn about native AI, Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), and Model Context Protocol (MCP). You'll also see how AI can work in real apps.

That mix makes sense. Most CF teams live in both worlds now. You may work on a 15-year-old billing app on Monday and test a new AI idea on Tuesday. Middleware-Earth contains multitudes.

One day ColdFusion AI workshop

Spend six hands-on hours learning how to turn your current applications into intelligent systems using the native power of ACF 2026. Totally without cost.

You also get the roadmap

One big reason to attend comes straight from Adobe.

The team plans to share where ColdFusion goes next.

That matters if you are a CIO planning an upgrade. It matters if you are a developer learning new skills. And it matters if your company keeps asking if CF has a future.

You can hear the answer from the people building it.

Adobe speakers include Mark Takata, Charvi Dhoot, and Vivek Kumar. You'll also hear from CF experts like Charlie Arehart, Dan Wilson, Justin Scott, and Nolan Erck.

That is a lot of CF mileage in one room. Rivendell would charge admission.

Production stories beat shiny demos

The other big draw comes from the people who work on real CF apps.

A clean demo always behaves. Production has other plans.

CF Summit East lets you hear what worked and what didn't. You'll also hear about the strange things CF can do after years in the wild.

Those lessons can save your own team weeks of wandering.

Ask about performance problems. Ask about security. Ask how people handle AI without handing the keys to the kingdom to a model. Ask what broke during an upgrade.

Someone in that room has probably fought the same orc.

And talk to people

This may be the most useful part. The event includes free breakfast and lunch. Great chance to mingle with other CFers!

CF has a smaller community than many tech stacks. That makes the people in it more valuable.

You can meet developers who have worked with CF for decades. You can talk to Adobe staff. And you can meet other teams dealing with old code and new demands.

There is also a happy hour after the Summit. Because some architecture problems get easier after everybody reaches the Prancing Pony.

Should you go?

If CF still runs important parts of your business, yes.

Send the developer who owns the app. Send the CIO trying to plan its future. Better yet, send both and compare notes afterward.

You will come home with ideas. Pick two or three that solve real problems and put them on the roadmap.

The conference gives you the map.

You still have to walk the road.

Adobe ColdFusion Summit East 2026 Reston, Virginia

* October 29th, 2026 (free)
* Onsite workshop: October 28th 2026 (free)

Register here! https://govevents.com/event/29184/adobe-coldfusion-summit-east-2026

🌟Onward!

In the next issue of the CF Alive newsletter, we’ll kick off cybersecurity awareness month with a patching and EOL playbook.

P.S. If CF Summit East leaves you with a page full of CF ideas and no time to tackle them, send us a message https://teratech.com/contact/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=social_165 or DM. TeraTech's ColdFusion team can help you pick the best ideas and make a plan.

The Best CF Recruitment Tool Isn't LinkedIn. It's Your CodebaseLet's say the perfect CF developer job exists. It offers ...
09/24/2026

The Best CF Recruitment Tool Isn't LinkedIn. It's Your Codebase

Let's say the perfect CF developer job exists. It offers fair pay, flexible hours, and fun work. Let's say that job is snagged by an ideal candidate. All seems alright.

Then they see the codebase and lack of improvement roadmap. Their eyes go wide like Gollum's. And p**f, they're gone. All the pay in the world won't bring them back.

An old CF app tells a story. Tidy folders, useful comments, tests, source control, and clear steps all say, "People care." A jungle of copied code, mystery files, and manual steps says, "Fly, you fools!"

👉 Need more CF development help? Explore TeraTech’s https://teratech.com/coldfusion-development/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=social_CTA1_development_164 ColdFusion development services. We help teams care for old CF apps, clean up messy code, and add skilled CF developers.

Developers are interviewing your app

Good developers know old apps come with baggage. No one expects a 15-year-old CF app to look brand new. But they do want to see that your team can make it better.

Think about two CF jobs with the same pay. The first app has source control, a working local setup, code reviews, basic tests, useful docs, and a plan for old code.

The second has a shared drive called “final_final2,” a production password known only by Steve, and a deployment process that begins with “Okay, whatever you do…”

Which fellowship would you join?

Messy code makes the job harder to sell

Messy CF code makes life harder for a new developer. Before they can fix real problems, they have to work out how the old code works. They need to find hidden links and learn which parts are safe to change.

That can turn a small ticket into a rough trip through Moria.

And the problems don't stop there. Training takes longer. Work is harder to plan. Releases have more risk. Senior developers spend more time explaining why the code works this way.

A new hire may start to wonder: Will I spend my time building new things? Or will I spend it digging through old code?

Clean up the welcome mat

Start with the parts a new developer will use first.

Make the app easy to run on their computer. Put the code in source control. Write down how to deploy it. Explain the key business steps.

Add tests around risky code. Clean up the most messy part of the app.

Then show new hires what you're working to improve. Even write down a roadmap for the app.

You're not just filling a job. You're showing them why they should work with you.

An old app with a plan can be a great place to work. CF developers can solve real problems and make the system better.

Even ancient ruins look better when someone hands you a map and a torch.

Your codebase helps you keep them too

Recruitment does not end on the developer’s first day. Keep making the CF code better after they join. Let them clean up bad code when they find it. Give them time to fix old problems, not just fix bugs.

And reward that work.

The person who fixes an old problem is just as useful as the person who ships a shiny new feature.

An old CF app can still be a great place to work. The key is giving developers the time and support to make it better.

So before you spend another month hunting LinkedIn for the perfect CF developer, look at your codebase. Is it a place they will want to work?

Even Aragorn probably would have passed on a job where the onboarding plan was a shrug.

🌟Onward!

In the next issue of the CF Alive newsletter, we’ll look at CF Summit East, which promises to be as good as any gathering at the prancing pony.

P.S. If your CF codebase is making hiring and onboarding harder than it needs to be, send https://teratech.com/contact/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=social_164 us a message or DM. TeraTech’s ColdFusion team can help clean up the rough edges, share the workload, and make your app a better place for good developers to work.

New episode of CF Alive is out. Charlie Arehart joins me to talk about moving to   2025 (and the sneaky Update 8, aka Co...
09/18/2026

New episode of CF Alive is out. Charlie Arehart joins me to talk about moving to 2025 (and the sneaky Update 8, aka ColdFusion 2026).

Charlie always finds hidden gems in every release. This time we dug into:

1) The new AI, MCP, and RAG stuff everyone's talking about (plus what's easy to miss past the AI headlines).

2) Subscription-only licensing now. What that really costs your budget over 5 years vs old model.

3) The longest "removed features" list Charlie's ever seen. If one old tag is holding your app together, you'll want to hear this.

4) HTTPS on CF Admin is easy to turn on now. What Charlie still finds broken out in the field.

5) Under the hood, Java 21 and Tomcat 10.1 landed together.

If you're planning an upgrade from CF2018 or CF2021, don't walk into Mordor without a map. This episode is your map!

Link to listen in the first comment 👇

Onboarding a New CF Developer: The Checklist That Saves the First 90 DaysYou finally found a CF developer. Woohoo! Now c...
09/16/2026

Onboarding a New CF Developer: The Checklist That Saves the First 90 Days

You finally found a CF developer. Woohoo! Now comes the hard part. The next step will decide how useful they'll be. They can hit the ground running fast. Or, they can spend three months lost in ancient CF code. If things are truly like Mordor, they'll be updating their LinkedIn profile during business hours.

A good CF developer can learn your app, sure. They can learn your app much faster if they have a map. Most old CF apps have years of business rules, server quirks, and old links to other systems. They also have quick fixes that somehow became permanent. And they have strange bits of code that made perfect sense to someone in 2014.

👉 If you need more CF development capacity, explore TeraTech’s ColdFusion development services https://teratech.com/coldfusion-development/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=social_CTA1_development. We help teams fill skill gaps, share legacy knowledge, and keep critical CF work moving while new developers get up to speed.

Dropping a new hire into that alone is basically sending Frodo into Mordor with a Jira login. I've seen onboarding go both ways. You want to avoid the "Ask Steve" problem. This is when one CF wizard knows how everything works. Every question goes to Steve. Every odd bit of old CF code needs Steve.

That's bad for the new hire, the team, and poor Steve.

Here's a better plan.

Week one: Give them the map

1. What does this CF app do?
2. Who uses it?
3. Which parts make money, serve customers, or keep staff working?
4. Where does the data come from?
5. Which parts of the app deserve extra care?

Give the new developer a local setup that works. Make sure they can access the CF code, docs, test systems, and logs. Show them how you release a change. Then introduce them to the people who know the business rules.

Next, show them the danger zones. Every old CF app has a few. Maybe one report takes forever. Maybe one scheduled task has seen things. Maybe the billing code sits behind a door marked, "Speak, friend, and enter."

It's better to learn about those quirks on Monday than during a Friday release.

The first 30 days: Give them real work

Training is much easier when a CF developer can work on something real.

Start with a small bug, report, or feature. Pair them with someone who knows the CF app. Let them find the code and make the change. Then let them test it and see how it gets released.

This teaches them far more than a huge folder of old CF docs. It also means they don't have to ask Steve about everything.

Use code reviews as training too. Explain why the app works the way it does. Show them the patterns you want to keep. Point out old patterns the team wants to stop using.

The goal is simple. Help them learn how your team writes CF without making them decode every rune alone.

Days 30 to 90: Spread the knowledge

By now, the new CF developer should know their way around the app. It's time to give them more control.

Let them take charge of a small part of the CF app. Give them time to write down what they learn. Let them make old tests better and clean up code that is hard to follow. They should also feel free to ask, "Why do we do it this way?" This is also the time to check the bus factor.

Can they deploy without one person standing beside them? Do they know where the CF logs are? Can they trace a slow request? Do they know how the database fits into the app? Can they explain one important business CF workflow back to you?

If the answer is still "ask Steve," your fellowship has more work to do.

And poor Steve needs a vacation.

The 90-day checklist

By day 90, a new CF developer should have:

* A development setup that works
* Access to the code, docs, logs, and test systems
* A clear view of the CF app's key business processes
* Experience shipping real changes
* Someone they can ask for help
* A good idea of which parts of the CF app need extra care
* The skills to take charge of a small part of the app
A chance to make the docs better for the next new hire

That last one matters. Good onboarding should make the next onboarding easier.

Oh, and they should also buy Steve a coffee.

🌟Onward!

In the next issue of the CF Alive newsletter, we’ll look at how your codebase can affect your hiring.

P.S. Is your new CF developer spending more time hunting for answers than shipping code? They may need a better onboarding and support plan. Send us a message or DM https://teratech.com/contact/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=social and TeraTech’s ColdFusion team will help transfer knowledge, fill the gaps, and get your developer working faster.

Why CF Developers Leave - And the One Change That Makes Them StayCF developers often leave after years of fighting messy...
09/16/2026

Why CF Developers Leave - And the One Change That Makes Them Stay

CF developers often leave after years of fighting messy code, risky releases, repeat outages, and a backlog that never leaves time to fix the real problems. In other words: it’s usually not their fault.

Every new CF feature adds another plank to the bridge. Nobody gets time to fix the ropes. After a while, the developer gets tired of crossing Moria with a flashlight and a ticket queue.

👉 If your CF team is buried under legacy code and repeat maintenance work, explore TeraTech’s ColdFusion development services https://teratech.com/coldfusion-development/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=social_CTA1_development. We help teams clean up fragile apps, reduce emergency work, and give developers a codebase they can improve.

The slow drain of unreadable code

Messy CF code makes every task harder. A small edit can affect five old files and create a pile of extra work. One business rule may show up in several places. A developer can spend hours tracing a bug, only to find a broken workaround written by someone who left during the Third Age.

That pressure adds up. Estimates get harder because hidden CF problems keep changing the work. Releases take longer. Support tickets break up planned work. Then the team gets blamed for moving slowly while the code keeps tying their boots together.

A good CF developer can handle difficult code. Fighting the same tech debt mess every week gets old fast.

The culture change that matters

Make maintainability part of the job.

Give developers time to improve the CF code as they work. Let them add tests, remove dead code, write down business rules, break huge functions into smaller pieces, and replace risky manual steps.

Then reward that work.

Most teams celebrate new features. Cleanup gets far less attention, even when it prevents the next outage. CF developers notice what gets praised and what gets pushed aside.

A healthier CF culture values the person who ships a feature and leaves the road safer for the next traveler.

What this looks like in practice

Set aside time for maintenance and tech debt reduction. Give the team clear CF coding rules and the power to use them. Make code reviews, cross-training, and documentation part of the normal work.

Leaders should also ask better questions. Stuff like:

* Which part of the CF app eats the most time each month?
* Which files make developers nervous?
* Which problem keeps coming back?
* Where does one person hold knowledge the rest of the fellowship needs?

Those answers give you a cleanup plan. Start with the code causing the most pain, risk, or emergency work. A full rewrite can stay deep in the Lonely Mountain. Your team can make useful improvements now.

Why developers stay

Developers stay where they can do good work.

They want CF code they can understand, teammates who share knowledge, and time to make the app better. They want leaders who see maintenance as real work with real value.

Give them that kind of workplace, and an old CF app can become a challenge worth solving instead of a curse.

The code may still contain ancient runes. Give your CF developers the tools and time to translate them.

🌟Onward!

In the next issue of the CF Alive newsletter, we’ll look at how to properly onboard a developer during their first three months.

P.S. If unreadable code and repeat emergencies are wearing down your CF team, it might be time for a maintenance plan. Send us a message https://teratech.com/contact/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=social or DM, and TeraTech’s ColdFusion team will help reduce the mess, spread the knowledge, and give your developers room to build again.

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