CodeIgniter Development

CodeIgniter Development, Upgrades & Migration to Laravel

New features, bug fixes and PHP 8 upgrades for CodeIgniter 3 and 4 applications — and a planned move to Laravel when the time is right.

PHP code for a CodeIgniter and Laravel application on a developer screen

Keep the Application Working, Then Make It Better

Thousands of business applications still run on CodeIgniter, and many of them work perfectly well. The trouble starts when the developer who built it has moved on, the server needs PHP 8, or a new feature has to be added to code nobody has touched in years.

We take on CodeIgniter 2, 3 and 4 applications as they are. We read the code before we quote, fix what is broken, add what you need, and bring the application onto a supported PHP version. When it makes sense we plan a gradual migration to Laravel, module by module, so the business never has to stop for a rewrite.

What’s Included

What We Do With CodeIgniter Applications

  • Bug Fixes & Error Resolution

    Fatal errors, broken forms, database errors and pages that stopped working after a hosting change — diagnosed from logs and fixed at the source.

  • PHP 8 & CodeIgniter 4 Upgrades

    Deprecated functions, removed extensions and changed behaviour handled so the application runs on a current, supported stack.

  • New Features & Integrations

    Extra modules, reports, payment gateways, SMS and email services, or third-party APIs added within the existing structure.

  • Security Hardening

    SQL injection, XSS and CSRF gaps closed, password hashing modernised, file uploads locked down and dependencies updated.

  • Performance Tuning

    Slow queries, missing indexes, N+1 loops and uncached views found and fixed; response times measured before and after.

  • Migration to Laravel

    A staged move to Laravel that keeps your database and users, replacing modules one at a time behind the same URLs.

Benefits

Why Businesses Bring Their CodeIgniter Apps to Us

  • We work on the application you have — no insistence on a rewrite before we will help.
  • A code review before quoting, so the estimate reflects the real state of the codebase.
  • Upgrades are done on a copy and tested against your real data before anything goes live.
  • Everything is committed to version control, documented and handed back — you are never locked in.
  • A clear, costed path to Laravel if and when the application outgrows CodeIgniter.

Technologies Used for CodeIgniter Development

  • CodeIgniter 3 & 4
  • PHP 7.4 – 8.3
  • MySQL / MariaDB
  • Laravel
  • Composer
  • Nginx & Apache
  • Git

We recommend the right tools for your goals, budget and team — never a one-size-fits-all stack.

Discuss Your Project

How We Work

Our CodeIgniter Development Process

  1. Discovery & Consultation

    We learn about your business, audience and goals, review any existing website and agree on clear success criteria.

  2. Strategy & Planning

    We define the sitemap, features, technology stack and timeline, so scope and budget are clear before work begins.

  3. UI/UX Design

    We design wireframes and polished, responsive layouts for your approval, focused on usability and conversions.

  4. Development

    We build with clean, standards-based code, integrate your tools and set up an easy-to-use content editor.

  5. Testing & QA

    We test functionality, speed, security, accessibility and SEO across browsers and devices before launch.

  6. Launch & Support

    We deploy, monitor and fine-tune your site, then provide ongoing maintenance and support as you grow.

FAQ

CodeIgniter Development FAQs

Our CodeIgniter app stopped working after the host upgraded PHP. Can you fix it?

Yes — this is the most common reason we are called. PHP 8 removed functions and changed how errors are raised, which breaks older CodeIgniter code. We fix the incompatibilities so the application runs on the new version rather than asking the host to roll back.

Should we upgrade CodeIgniter or move to Laravel?

If the application is stable and mainly needs maintenance, upgrading to CodeIgniter 4 on PHP 8 is the cheaper, lower-risk path. If you have a roadmap of new features, Laravel gives you a much larger ecosystem and easier hiring. We will tell you honestly which fits after reviewing the code.

Can you work without the original developer?

Yes. Most of the CodeIgniter applications we maintain came to us without documentation or a handover. We map the application first, then work from that map.

Will a migration to Laravel mean downtime?

No. We migrate in stages behind the same URLs, keep the same database, and switch each module over once it is tested. Users see the application keep working while it changes underneath.

Explore More

Technologies and services that work well alongside codeigniter development.

  • React Development

    Custom React.js front ends, dashboards and single-page applications built with TypeScript, reusable components and server-side rendering for SEO.

  • Next.js Development

    Next.js websites and web apps with server-side rendering, static generation, image optimisation and route-level code splitting for top Core Web Vitals.

  • Vue.js & Nuxt Development

    Vue 3 applications and server-rendered Nuxt websites — Composition API, Pinia state, TypeScript and fast, SEO-ready pages.

  • Angular Development

    Angular applications for large teams — typed architecture, RxJS data flows, standalone components, testing and long-term upgrade support.

Case Studies & Live Demos

CodeIgniter Development in Practice

Projects where this work made a measurable difference — the problem, what we built and the results. Each one has a working demo you can try.

  • Shop Store — ShopEase
    • PHP
    • MySQL
    • JavaScript

    eCommerce Development

    ShopEase – Modern eCommerce Platform

    A feature-rich online fashion store with a seamless shopping experience, powerful admin management and secure transactions.

  • Living Room — Ashcroft Lettings
    • Laravel
    • PHP 8
    • Blade & Livewire

    Web Application Development

    Property Management & Tenant Portal

    A Laravel platform managing 1,140 units — tenancies, maintenance jobs, contractor scheduling and owner statements.

  • Construction Tools — Fenwick Trade Supplies
    • CodeIgniter 2 → 3
    • PHP 8.3
    • Laravel 11

    Legacy PHP Modernisation

    Trade Supplier Order Desk: CodeIgniter Upgrade & Laravel Migration

    A ten-year-old CodeIgniter order desk brought onto PHP 8, made fast again, and moved to Laravel one module at a time without a day of downtime.

  • Red Tractor — Field & Furrow Supplies
    • WordPress
    • WooCommerce
    • PHP

    WooCommerce eCommerce

    Tractor Cleaning & Equipment Care – WooCommerce Store

    A WooCommerce online store for tractor cleaning, equipment maintenance, paint correction, oxidation removal and foam cleaning products.

  • Gears Chains — Hartwell Industrial
    • Magento 2
    • PHP 8
    • MySQL

    Magento eCommerce

    Industrial Parts B2B Store

    An 84,000-SKU Magento 2 store with contract pricing, quick order and ERP-synced stock for trade accounts.

  • Free big open, multiple level — Faculty of Science
    • Drupal 10
    • PHP 8
    • Twig

    Drupal Website

    University Faculty & Research Portal

    A multilingual Drupal portal for 6,800 pages, 140 editors and three languages, built to WCAG 2.2 AA.

See the full portfolio

From the Blog

Guides and Comparisons Worth Reading

Straight answers on when this technology is the right choice, what it costs and how to get the most from it.

  • Trade supplier order desk running on an upgraded CodeIgniter application

    CodeIgniter in 2026: Upgrade, Maintain, or Migrate to Laravel?

    Plenty of business applications still run on CodeIgniter, and most of them are fine. Here is how to decide whether yours needs an upgrade, a maintainer, or a planned move to Laravel.

  • Yellow tape measures laid side by side on a white workbench

    Modernising a Legacy PHP Order System Without Stopping the Orders

    An order system that takes money all day cannot be switched off for a rewrite. Here is how we modernise legacy PHP while orders keep flowing: map it, put tests around every path that touches a price, change the data in small steps and move modules across one route at a time.

  • Hand holding a payment card beside a laptop showing an online store sale page

    When a Custom eCommerce Platform Makes Sense, and When Shopify or WooCommerce Is the Better Buy

    A custom-built store gives you full control and full ownership, and full responsibility for everything a platform does quietly for its monthly fee. Here is how we decide whether a business genuinely needs its own eCommerce platform, what it really costs after launch, and the questions to settle before anyone writes code.

CodeIgniter Development Enquiry

Tell Us About Your CodeIgniter Application

A few details about the application and what you need let us scope the review and quote properly.

  • Reply within 24 hoursA real person reviews every request.
  • Free consultationHonest advice, no obligation.
  • 100% confidentialHappy to sign an NDA.

What happens next?

  1. We review your requirements
  2. We reply with questions or a call slot
  3. You receive a clear, itemised proposal
1 Your project
2 CodeIgniter Development requirements

The work

What do you need? (select all that apply)

Access

Do you have the source code?
Can you share hosting or repository access?
3 Budget & timeline
4 Your details

Tick the box and answer one quick question.