Developer Disappeared? We Fix or Take Over Your App or Website, Starting With an Honest Code Review

Rescue projects tend to arrive in one of two states. In the first, the product is genuinely close: a few screens missing, some bugs, a store submission that never happened. In the second, the "almost done" app is mostly interface with little working underneath, and finishing it would cost more than starting cleanly.

From the outside the two look the same. The difference only shows in the code, which is why we never quote a takeover blind and never recommend a rebuild unless it's genuinely cheaper for you. This page covers what to do in the first 48 hours, how our takeover review works, the most common app rescues, and what fixes and takeovers cost.

The first 48 hours: secure what you paid for

Before hiring anyone, make sure you control the project. Nothing else matters as much.

1. Get the code. If it's in a repository under the developer's account, ask for a transfer or to be made owner. Ask in writing, politely, and keep the message. If all you have is an old zip file, keep it safe.
2. Check the domain. Log in to the registrar and confirm the domain is in your name, with your email as the recovery address. A domain that expires unnoticed can be lost.
3. Check who pays for hosting and the database. If that card stops, the product goes offline and data can be deleted.
4. Check the store accounts. Is the app published from your Apple and Google developer accounts, or the developer's? Moving an app between accounts usually needs the current owner's cooperation, so ask early.
5. Rotate secrets once you have access. Change passwords and regenerate API keys for payments, SMS, maps and email. The previous developer still knows them.

If you're not sure what you own and what's missing, that's a normal part of our first conversation.

How a takeover review works

We start with a short review of the codebase and the running product. You don't pay for a long audit; you get a clear answer. We look at:

• Can it be built and run? Surprisingly often, a handed-over project doesn't compile without missing files, keys or undocumented steps.
• Is the stack current? Outdated frameworks and abandoned libraries make every change slower and riskier.
• Is the data model sound? A messy database is the most expensive thing to fix later, because everything depends on it.
• How much is real? We compare what the screens show with what the backend actually does.
• Security basics. Keys hard-coded in the app, open database rules and missing access checks are common in rushed projects.

You then get a written recommendation with one of three paths:

Many rescues end up in between: keep the design and database, rewrite the weak parts. If we recommend a rebuild, we explain exactly why, so you can compare for yourself. Our guide on taking over an abandoned project goes deeper into the decision.

Common app rescues

Mobile apps break in ways websites don't, often without anyone touching the code.

• Rejected by App Store or Google Play review. Missing privacy details, account deletion, broken sign-in for the reviewer, or payment rules. We read the rejection, fix the cause and resubmit.
• The app stopped updating. Apple and Google regularly raise the minimum SDK and target versions for new uploads. An app nobody has touched for a year often can't ship an update until its framework and libraries are upgraded.
• Push notifications stopped. Expired certificates or keys, or a change in the notification service, are common causes.
• The backend bill jumped, or the database hit a limit. Inefficient queries and missing indexes can turn a small app expensive. We find the cause before you upgrade plans.
• Crashes on some devices only. We reproduce them on the reported devices and OS versions before guessing.
• Arabic is broken. Mirrored layouts, fonts and mixed text are a speciality; see our Arabic and RTL localization service, from $80.

On the web side, the usual requests are slow pages, broken forms or checkout, and new features on an existing Next.js or React codebase.

Fix prices

Continuing a stalled project or adding large features is scoped after the review, with a written scope and a fixed price or milestones, the same as a new build. Nothing is paid before you approve the scope.

The stacks we take over

React, Next.js and TypeScript on the web; Flutter and React Native for mobile; Laravel and PHP, and Node.js on the backend; MySQL, PostgreSQL, Supabase and Firebase for data. If your project uses something less common, tell us on WhatsApp and we'll confirm before you commit to anything. Rebuilding mobile apps cleanly is something we do often with Flutter.

How to brief us

The more of this you send, the faster and more accurate the quote:

• A link to the live site or the store listing, and what the product is supposed to do.
• Screenshots or a screen recording of each problem, with the device and OS version.
• What the last developer said was done, and what's still missing.
• The list of outside services used (payments, SMS, maps, email, analytics).
• Repository access, or a full copy of the code.

You don't need to send passwords. The safe approach is to invite us to the repository, hosting and store consoles with the access we need, then remove us when the work is done.

When we're not the right fit

• You don't have the code and can't get it. A live website can sometimes be partly recovered, but an app's source and database usually can't. Then the honest choice is a rebuild, and recovering the old code becomes a matter between you and the previous developer.
• You want endless patches on a base we've told you is unsafe. We'll fix urgent problems, but we won't keep stacking features on code that puts your users' data at risk.
• The project needs a technology we don't work with, such as a niche legacy platform. We'll tell you plainly rather than learn on your budget.
• You need someone on call around the clock. We're a small remote studio on Cairo time; ongoing support is agreed separately and isn't a 24/7 operations service.
• We only work on Sharia-compliant products, so betting, interest-based lending or crypto-trading apps are out.

FAQ

Can you take over if I only have the live app, not the code?

Not in a useful way for a mobile app. A published app can't be turned back into maintainable source code, and the backend and database live on servers you'd need access to. If the code is truly gone, we'll quote a rebuild and reuse whatever designs, content and data you can recover.

Can you work alongside my current developer instead of replacing them?

Yes. Sometimes a second pair of hands on a specific bug or feature is all that's needed. We work in your repository, follow the existing structure and leave clear notes so either of us can continue.

What if a fix turns out bigger than expected?

We stop and tell you before doing extra work. You get the reason and a revised price, and you decide whether to go ahead. Nothing beyond the agreed scope is billed without your approval.

Will you sign an NDA before seeing the code?

Yes, happily. We also only show a project in our portfolio with the client's permission.

Do you offer maintenance after the rescue?

A bug-fix window after delivery is included, with its length stated in the quote. Ongoing updates and features are available when you need them, agreed separately. For budgeting, see what yearly app maintenance costs look like (in Arabic).

How do I start?

Send a short description, a link and screenshots of the problem on WhatsApp, or use the project planner. You'll get a first assessment and a written price, and you pay nothing before you approve the scope.