Reconceptualizing Legacy System Modernization Through the Evolution of ASP.NET to ASP.NET Core: Architectural, Organizational, and Strategic Implications

Abstract

Legacy systems have long occupied a paradoxical position within organizational information infrastructures, functioning simultaneously as indispensable operational backbones and as formidable barriers to technological innovation. Over several decades, scholarly discourse has framed legacy systems as repositories of accumulated business knowledge, technical debt, and organizational memory, while also identifying them as sources of rigidity, escalating maintenance costs, and strategic inflexibility (Bennett, 1995; Bisbal et al., 1999). In parallel, the rapid evolution of software platforms and architectural paradigms has intensified the pressure on organizations to modernize these systems without disrupting mission-critical operations. Within this context, the evolution of ASP.NET to ASP.NET Core represents not merely a technological shift but a paradigmatic reorientation in how enterprise software modernization can be conceptualized, executed, and governed. This article develops a comprehensive theoretical and analytical examination of legacy system modernization through the lens of the ASP.NET to ASP.NET Core transition, situating this evolution within broader traditions of software reengineering, service-oriented migration, and cloud-oriented architectural transformation.

Drawing on an extensive body of literature on legacy system evolution, reengineering methodologies, and digital transformation, this study adopts an interpretive research design grounded in qualitative synthesis and conceptual analysis (Kitchenham, 2004; Petersen et al., 2008). Rather than proposing new empirical data, the article systematically integrates established theoretical frameworks with contemporary platform evolution insights, most notably the detailed analysis of ASP.NET Core tools, strategies, and implementation approaches articulated by Valiveti (2025). By embedding this platform-specific evolution within long-standing scholarly debates on legacy modernization, the article advances a multi-layered understanding of how technological change intersects with organizational decision-making, architectural strategy, and socio-technical constraints.

The findings suggest that the ASP.NET Core ecosystem exemplifies a form of evolutionary modernization that challenges traditional dichotomies between replacement and incremental reengineering. Its cross-platform orientation, modular architecture, and cloud-native design principles provide a compelling case for reconsidering established modernization taxonomies such as wrapping, migration, and redevelopment (Canfora et al., 2000; Seacord et al., 2003). At the same time, the analysis underscores that technical capabilities alone are insufficient to guarantee successful modernization outcomes. Organizational readiness, governance structures, regulatory contexts, and domain-specific constraints—particularly evident in highly regulated sectors such as insurance and public administration—play a decisive role in shaping modernization trajectories (Irani et al., 2023; IAIS, 2024).

Through an extended discussion, the article critically evaluates competing scholarly perspectives on legacy system evolution, addresses common counterarguments regarding platform lock-in and migration risk, and articulates nuanced implications for future research and practice. Ultimately, the study contributes to the literature by positioning the ASP.NET to ASP.NET Core transition as an analytically rich exemplar of contemporary legacy modernization, offering theoretical insights that extend beyond a single technology stack and informing broader debates on sustainable software evolution in the digital era (Valiveti, 2025).