CodeIgniter Development · Cardiff · Cardiff · Based in Gravesend
CodeIgniter Development in Cardiff
Lean, fast CodeIgniter web applications and APIs for Cardiff businesses, plus expert support, maintenance and modernisation of the existing CodeIgniter systems you already depend on. Built pragmatically, maintained long-term, delivered by a UK team you actually speak to.
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CodeIgniter is for lean, fast builds and the systems you already rely on.
CodeIgniter is a lightweight PHP framework. Its whole appeal is the opposite of "more": a small footprint, very little configuration, and almost no ceremony between an idea and a working application. Where heavier frameworks ask you to set a lot of things up before you have built anything, CodeIgniter lets a competent developer get a functional, sensible application running quickly. For a focused tool, a defined API, or an internal system that does one job well, that leanness is exactly the right trade.
The other half of the CodeIgniter story is everything that has already been built with it. CodeIgniter has been around since 2006, and a huge amount of operational software across the UK, including in Cardiff, quietly runs on CodeIgniter 3 and CodeIgniter 4 today. Booking systems, member portals, internal admin tools, public sector applications, ecommerce back-ends. That software still works and the business still depends on it, but the original developer has often moved on. Supporting, maintaining, modernising and where necessary rescuing those applications is a large part of what we do, and it is work that needs a team who understands CodeIgniter properly rather than treating it as a relic.
Lean web apps, built fast
When you need a focused web application up and running quickly and a full Laravel build would be overkill, CodeIgniter's small footprint and low configuration overhead let us deliver something solid in less time. Right-sized for the job rather than over-engineered.
Supporting existing CI apps
The most common reason businesses come to us: an existing CodeIgniter application that still does its job but has lost its original developer. We pick it up, learn it properly, and keep it running, fixing bugs and adding features without the drama of a rewrite.
Modernising CI3 and CI4 systems
A great deal of live software runs on CodeIgniter 3, which is no longer actively developed. We assess whether to bring it onto a supported footing, migrate it to CodeIgniter 4, or, where it has outgrown the framework, re-platform it onto Laravel. An honest recommendation, not a default rewrite.
Rescuing problem applications
Sometimes a CodeIgniter app is unstable, insecure, slow, or held together by one person who has left. We audit it, stabilise it, and give you a clear, honest plan: what is fixable as it stands, what needs reworking, and what it would cost to put right.
Focused REST APIs
When you need a clean, well-defined API to serve a mobile app, a front-end, or a third-party system, and it does not warrant a heavyweight platform, CodeIgniter is a pragmatic, fast way to build and ship one without unnecessary moving parts.
Internal tools and admin panels
The unglamorous software that runs a business day to day: data entry tools, internal dashboards, simple booking and scheduling systems, member areas. CodeIgniter is well suited to building these quickly and keeping them cheap to maintain.
Knowing when to grow beyond it
CodeIgniter is the right tool until it isn't. When an application starts demanding heavy background processing, complex access control, or a large structured team, we will tell you honestly that Laravel is the better long-term home, and plan the move properly rather than forcing the framework to do what it was never designed for.
Laravel vs CodeIgniter vs WordPress
We build in Laravel, CodeIgniter, and WordPress. We are not going to recommend one over the others just to win a project. The right framework depends on the problem, and picking the wrong one is one of the most expensive mistakes a project can make. CodeIgniter shines for lean, fast builds and for supporting the many existing CodeIgniter systems businesses still rely on. Here is an honest comparison of when each is the right choice.
| Situation | Laravel | CodeIgniter | WordPress |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lean web app, fast turnaround, modest scope | Can be overkill | ✓ Best fit | Depends on content |
| Supporting or modernising an existing CodeIgniter app | Re-platform only | ✓ Best fit | Not suited |
| Focused REST API with a small footprint | Workable, heavier | ✓ Best fit | Not suited |
| Complex application with heavy business logic | ✓ Best fit | Possible, then strains | Not suited |
| Heavy background processing and scheduled jobs | ✓ Best fit | Manual effort | Not suited |
| Multi-tenant SaaS application | ✓ Best fit | Possible, limited | Not suited |
| Content-led site with editorial workflow | Possible but heavy | Not suited | ✓ Best fit |
| Large, structured team on one growing codebase | ✓ Best fit | Workable, less structure | Hard to govern |
If you are not sure which applies to your project, describe the problem and we will tell you what we would reach for and why, even if the honest answer is that CodeIgniter is not the right tool at all.
How we approach a CodeIgniter project
Whether we are building something new or taking over something that already exists, the framework will not save a project that was scoped badly or a codebase that was never understood properly before it was changed. Here is what we pay attention to, and the stages the work actually moves through, for both fresh builds and existing systems.
Understanding what exists
For an existing CodeIgniter app, the first job is reading the code properly: which version it is on, how it is structured, where the business logic lives, and what the real risks are. You cannot safely change software you do not understand, so we invest in understanding it first.
Right-sizing the solution
For a new build, we resist over-engineering. CodeIgniter's value is leanness, so we keep the application proportionate to the problem and avoid bolting on complexity it does not need. The fastest, most maintainable code is the code you did not have to write.
Sound data foundations
The database schema is a decision you live with for years. Whether building new or extending an existing CI system, we treat the data model deliberately, because retrofitting a bad one into a growing application is one of the most expensive corrections in software.
Security on legacy code
Older CodeIgniter applications often predate current security practice. We check input handling, authentication, and the framework version itself, and we close the gaps that matter rather than leaving known issues sitting in software that is open to the internet.
Maintainable by anyone competent
We follow CodeIgniter conventions and keep the codebase readable, so you are never locked into a single developer. If you ever bring the work in-house or to another team, the code makes sense to them rather than only to us.
Honest about the bigger picture
If the right answer is to keep supporting your CodeIgniter app, we say so. If it has genuinely outgrown the framework and a migration to Laravel would serve you better, we say that too, with the reasoning, rather than defaulting to whatever earns us more.
From first conversation to long-term support
We run CodeIgniter projects in clear stages so you always know where things stand, what is being decided, and what comes next. Because you deal directly with Rob and Jason rather than an account manager, there is no layer of translation between what you ask for and what gets built. This is the same process whether you are in Cardiff, London, or anywhere else in the UK, and whether the work is a new build or taking over an existing system.
- Discovery, audit and scopingFor a new build we get to the bottom of what the application needs to do and who uses it. For an existing app we audit the code, identify the version and any technical debt, and report honestly on its state. Either way the output is a clear scope and a fixed-price proposal based on what we actually find.
- Planning the right approachWe decide deliberately: a lean new CodeIgniter build, a focused piece of work on an existing system, a CI3-to-CI4 modernisation, or in some cases a planned re-platform to Laravel. The decision is driven by what serves the business, not by what is easiest to quote.
- Build or change in working incrementsWe work against a staging environment you can access throughout, so you see real progress rather than waiting for a single big reveal. On existing systems we change carefully and incrementally, keeping the application stable while we improve it.
- Testing and quality assuranceThorough testing of the workflows your users actually follow, plus automated tests around the logic that matters where it adds value. On legacy code we test the awkward edge cases, because that is exactly where old applications tend to break.
- Deployment and go-liveA controlled deployment with a clear plan and sensible rollback, taking particular care where a live system that the business depends on is being changed. Going live should be an event you have rehearsed, not a leap of faith.
- Handover and ongoing supportDocumentation, access, and a straightforward handover, followed by whatever ongoing arrangement suits you, from occasional changes to a regular support retainer. Keeping CodeIgniter applications stable, secure and supported over the long term is core to what we do.
We have built and maintained PHP software since 2008.
We do not just build applications and walk away. CoreCRM, our own CRM product, has been in continuous production use since 2011, and we have supported client PHP systems, CodeIgniter included, for years. It is direct evidence that we build and look after software designed to be depended upon for well over a decade, not just for the length of a single project. The discipline that keeps our own software reliable is the same discipline we bring to maintaining and modernising yours.
A Kent team trusted with national software work
Telegraph Media Group, Hearst Communications, CDS Global, AX Paris, Motel Rocks
These are not the typical clients of a regional development agency. They are the kind of businesses that usually work with large London firms. They work with us because the technical depth is there and the overhead is not, and because they get the founders directly rather than a managed account. Distance has never been the issue: most of our work has been delivered remotely for years.
Across that work we use the right PHP tool for each job. CodeIgniter is what we reach for when a build needs to be lean and fast, or when an existing CodeIgniter system needs supporting and modernising rather than replacing. Laravel is what we use for the most demanding, complex platforms. The point is always to fit the framework to the problem.
- Telegraph Media Group: custom operational software built on PHP, maintained and extended over years
- Hearst Communications: bespoke systems development for a global publishing operation
- CDS Global: multi-year PHP development engagement on business-critical operational software
- AX Paris: bespoke ERP-style back-office connecting Shopify to warehouse and despatch workflows. Case study.
- Motel Rocks: integration middleware connecting Shopify to Oracle NetSuite and 3PL providers. Case study.
Working with Cardiff and South Wales businesses
Cardiff is the capital of Wales and its largest economic centre, with a strong concentration of public sector and government bodies, a sizeable financial and professional services cluster, and a well-known media and creative sector anchored by broadcasting and a thriving digital community. Add the universities and a growing fintech and tech scene, and you have exactly the kind of organisations that run on a long tail of operational software: member portals, booking and scheduling systems, internal admin tools, public-facing applications, and integrations that off-the-shelf products never quite fit.
A lot of that software was built years ago, often in CodeIgniter, and still does its job. That is precisely the kind of work we are built for: keeping pragmatic PHP applications running, improving them, and modernising them when the time is right. We are not local to Cardiff, and we are not going to pretend otherwise: Gravesend is around 200 miles away. What we offer instead is a genuinely senior UK team, working entirely in-house with no offshore arm, available to you directly rather than through layers of account management.
In practice that distance changes nothing about the quality of the work. Most of our projects, including for national clients, are delivered remotely with regular video calls and a shared staging environment you can see progress on. We come down to Cardiff for a kick-off workshop or a key milestone when being in the room genuinely helps, and otherwise we keep the overhead, and your costs, sensibly low.
Related development pages
How to choose a CodeIgniter developer in Cardiff
Whether you end up working with us, a local Cardiff agency, or a freelancer, these are the questions worth asking before you commit, especially if you are handing over an existing application. The answers tell you a lot about what you are actually buying.
Who actually writes the code?
Some agencies pitch with senior people and deliver via juniors or offshore teams you never meet. Ask directly who will work on your application and who you call when something breaks. At Dev Partners it is the founders and an in-house UK team, with no offshore.
Are they comfortable with both CI3 and CI4?
Many live applications are still on CodeIgniter 3, which differs meaningfully from CodeIgniter 4. Ask whether they actually know the version you are on, and whether they have modernised CI3 apps before. Familiarity with only the newest version is not much help with a legacy system.
Will they take over existing code?
Plenty of developers only want greenfield work and quietly steer you towards a rewrite. Ask whether they are willing to audit and adopt your existing CodeIgniter app, and how they approach it. We take over inherited codebases as a matter of routine.
Is the framework choice honest?
A developer who recommends a full rebuild for everything, or who pushes one framework regardless, is selling, not advising. The right partner will tell you when supporting your CodeIgniter app is the smart move and when Laravel or WordPress is genuinely the better fit.
What does ongoing support look like?
An application is not finished at launch, and a legacy app especially needs steady care. Ask how they handle security updates, framework versions, and what a support or retainer arrangement actually costs. Vague answers here become expensive later.
How do they scope and price?
A low headline figure that grows through change requests is not a bargain. Ask how they scope, whether you get a fixed price, and what is and is not included. We scope carefully, audit first where there is existing code, and quote a fixed price based on what we actually find.
What our clients say
20 clients. A few of their words.
A well-rounded team, ensuring a full suite of expertise & resource is always available. CDS Global have seen the successful completion of major projects over the years where Dev Partners' ability to grasp the underlying business needs to provide a future-proof solution has been invaluable.
We have worked with Jason & his team to develop our Shopify store, and the experience was outstanding from start to finish. The design is clean, modern, and perfectly aligned with our brand identity, while the build is fast, responsive, and easy to manage on the backend. They clearly understood our vision and delivered a store we're genuinely proud of. Highly recommend to any brand looking for a top-quality Shopify partner.
After ongoing issues and delays with our previous developers, we brought in Rob & Jason at Dev Partners to take over all our websites and bespoke software. What a breath of fresh air, fully focused, excellent pre-launch designs and clear communication throughout. Highly recommended.
BPC Energy Ltd turned to Dev Partners for a complete turnkey solution, and they exceeded our expectations. The team handled everything from project management to development and support with real care and attention. They understood what we were aiming for, stayed on top of every detail, and always delivered on schedule with excellent quality.
Working with Dev Partners to redesign and modernise our WMS system: the whole process has been thoroughly professional from the outset and a delight to work with. Cannot recommend enough.
Great agency. Have used Dev Partners for several years and they have built 20+ sites for us, in addition to taking on our legacy websites, upgrading and maintaining. Easy to work with and some great practical ideas to improve our digital offerings.
Jones Hire have been working with Dev Partners on several projects, which have been very successful. They linked our catering database to a new improved website so clients can easily place and update orders, created a custom warehouse picking app to fulfil all our challenging requirements, and are currently developing a custom transport app to streamline our loading and delivery process.
We have been trying to reinvent our website for over 5 years, trying to make it convert and failing each time. Spoke to Rob at Dev Partners, the team helped create our new site and the improvement was instant.
We have been working with Rob and the team for about 10 years now. Dev Partners helped us build a completely bespoke CRM from scratch which manages our daily business and is always well maintained. We have been able to use the system and roll it out in our new franchise branches.
We collaborated with Dev Partners on the front end of a fairly complex telemarketing platform. Rob and Jason took the time to properly understand the moving parts, asked the right questions, and delivered a clean, intuitive interface that's made the system far easier for our team to use.
I have been working with the team at Dev Partners for the last 3 years and we have always been impressed with the speed in which they act on things for us, along with the honest open communication. The team are a valuable and vital part of our supply chain.
We've had a program for our business in the electronic security sector that Dev Partners developed and keep up to date. They've never let us down, always there when needed. Thanks Rob and the team.
Dev Partners have been working with us for just over 2 years. They have significantly upgraded and redesigned our existing web platforms, and always deliver a first class service.
Dev Partners helped us build an event website. The team were very knowledgeable, easy to work with and quick to deliver a high quality product.
Working with Dev Partners has been an exceptional experience. Their team is highly skilled, professional, and committed to delivering results. What truly sets them apart is their communication and transparency; we always felt informed, supported, and confident.
We've worked with Dev Partners a few times to support us on bespoke web build tasks. They're very easy to work with, approachable, and explain the detail in a way that's understandable. A great partner for technical issues at sensible prices.
Excellent customer service backed up with solid experience. As a media business we have had five websites built by Dev Partners. I would certainly recommend them.
Found Dev Partners and they were great, nothing too much trouble. They managed to help us with integrating our old existing system with Shopify.
I've worked with Rob and his team off and on for many years and have always found them to be professional, knowledgeable, and best of all, they listen to their clients and deliver what is required.
We have worked with Dev Partners for 7 years and can highly recommend them for their expertise and excellent customer service.
CodeIgniter development in Cardiff: questions answered
The questions Cardiff and South Wales businesses ask us most often about CodeIgniter projects, both new builds and existing systems.
Yes. Dev Partners is based in Gravesend, Kent, and we work with businesses across the whole of the UK, including Cardiff and the wider South Wales region. CodeIgniter development is delivered remotely as standard, and the distance makes no difference to the quality of the work.
You deal directly with the founders, Rob and Jason, throughout the project. We travel to Cardiff for a kick-off workshop or key milestones when it genuinely adds value, and otherwise keep the overhead low.
CodeIgniter is a lightweight, fast PHP framework with a small footprint and very little configuration. It is the right choice when you need a lean web application or API built quickly, where a heavier framework like Laravel would be overkill, and it is especially relevant when you already run an existing CodeIgniter application that needs supporting, maintaining or modernising.
For complex applications with heavy business logic we often suggest Laravel, and for content-led sites WordPress. We will tell you honestly which framework fits your project rather than defaulting to the one that suits us.
Lean custom web applications, internal tools and admin panels, focused REST APIs, and quick-turnaround builds where speed and a small footprint matter. Just as importantly, we support, maintain, extend and rescue existing CodeIgniter 3 and CodeIgniter 4 applications that businesses still rely on every day.
Cardiff has a strong public sector, financial services, media and creative cluster, and a great deal of the operational software in those organisations runs on exactly this kind of pragmatic PHP.
Yes, and it is one of the things we are most often asked to do. We take over existing CodeIgniter 3 and CodeIgniter 4 codebases regularly. We start with a proper code audit, give you an honest assessment of the quality, the version, and any technical debt, and then work to whatever scope makes sense.
Some inherited applications are well-built and just need extending or a security pass. Others have accumulated problems worth addressing before building further. We tell you which one you have before committing to any work.
Yes. A lot of business-critical software in Cardiff and across the UK runs on CodeIgniter 3, which is no longer actively developed. We assess whether the right move is to bring the application up to a supported footing, migrate it to CodeIgniter 4, or in some cases re-platform it onto Laravel where the application has outgrown what CodeIgniter was built for.
We give you an honest recommendation based on what the software actually does and what it needs to do next, not a default answer that happens to suit us.
It depends on the work. A focused CodeIgniter app or API, or a defined piece of work on an existing system, starts from a few thousand pounds. Ongoing support and maintenance of a live CodeIgniter application can be arranged on a retainer or on a per-task basis.
We scope carefully and give you a fixed-price proposal based on what we actually find in your requirements or in your existing codebase, rather than an estimate designed to win the work and adjust later.
Almost all of our project work is delivered remotely, and that has been true for years across our entire client base, including national names. The quality of a CodeIgniter application has nothing to do with where the developer is sitting when they write it.
We run regular video calls, share progress on a staging environment you can access, and stay reachable directly. Cardiff is around 200 miles from Gravesend; we travel down when a workshop or milestone genuinely benefits from being in the room, and otherwise keep the overhead, and your costs, low.
No. Dev Partners has been a 100% UK in-house team since we were founded in 2008. There is no offshore arm and no subcontracting of the build. The people who scope your project are the people who write the code and the people you can call when something needs attention.
For Cardiff clients that means you get a genuinely senior UK team without the cost structure of a large London or regional agency.
Not always, and a developer who tells you to rebuild everything by default is selling, not advising. If your CodeIgniter application does its job and is maintainable, the right move is usually to keep supporting and improving it.
A rewrite is justified when the application has genuinely outgrown CodeIgniter, when the codebase is beyond economic repair, or when a major new direction makes a clean foundation worthwhile. We will tell you honestly which situation you are in, even when the honest answer earns us less work.
CoreCRM is our own CRM product, in continuous production use since 2011. It matters because it is direct evidence that we build and maintain serious PHP software over the long term, not just for the length of a project.
The same discipline that keeps our own software reliable for over a decade is what we bring to supporting and modernising the CodeIgniter applications our clients depend on every day.
CodeIgniter project in Cardiff or South Wales? Talk to us.
Describe the problem and we will tell you whether CodeIgniter is the right tool and what the work would involve.
New lean application, focused API, or taking over and modernising something that already exists; we give you an honest view on approach and cost before any work starts. You speak directly to the founders, not an account manager, and the team doing the work is fully UK-based and in-house.
We can also help with:
- Lean custom CodeIgniter web applications
- Support and maintenance of existing CI3 and CI4 apps
- Modernising and migrating legacy CodeIgniter systems
- Rescuing unstable or unsupported applications
- Focused REST API development
- Ongoing CodeIgniter support retainers
We reply to all enquiries within one working day.
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