Why Migrating to Forge Isn’t a Simple Process
Planning to “migrate” your Connect app to Forge? Stop. Think rebuild instead.
Here’s the uncomfortable truth: Forge isn’t a migration platform. It’s a complete rearchitecture project that demands strategic thinking and patience. While other Atlassian migrations, like Server to Cloud, offer automated tools and guided pathways, Forge operates in an entirely different universe.
Why such a dramatic shift? Core incompatibilities run deep. Forge imposes 16MB payload limits that can shatter existing data models, plus 25-second execution timeouts, forcing you to rethink background processes. You’re dealing with new permissions models, security tokens replacing JWT systems, and event-driven execution patterns.
Connect-on-Forge exists as a migration option, sure. But it essentially runs your same Connect code on Forge infrastructure rather than creating a true Forge app. Most Atlassian Forge experts don’t recommend this approach for long-term success.
Unlike Server/DC migrations, Forge offers no automated data transfer utilities. No migration tools. Just you, your team, and the challenge of rebuilding from scratch.
When Forge Rebuilds Make Strategic Sense
So why rebuild at all? Simple answer: competitive advantage.
Enhanced security tops the list. Tenant isolation, strict permission scopes, and OAuth 2.0 authentication—these aren’t just buzzwords for your next board meeting. They’re real compliance wins that can unlock enterprise deals previously out of reach.
Infrastructure headaches? Gone. Forge’s serverless, Atlassian-managed environment eliminates the operational overhead that’s been draining your DevOps budget. No more 3 AM server alerts or capacity planning spreadsheets.
But here’s where it gets interesting for forward-thinking CTOs: access to capabilities that simply don’t exist elsewhere. Advanced APIs that unlock new workflow possibilities. Immediate updates without waiting for admin approval cycles. Granular permissions that finally give users exactly what they need—nothing more, nothing less.
4 Major Challenges You’ll Face in Rebuilds & How Forge Experts Help
Let’s be honest about what you’re walking into and how expert consultants turn these obstacles into advantages.
1– Skills Gap & Learning Curve
Forge’s serverless architecture requires entirely new expertise that most internal teams lack. Teams need upskilling in unfamiliar APIs, permission models, and UI frameworks, which can extend project timelines by 3–6 months.
❌ Budget overruns and missed deadlines become inevitable when internal teams learn on the job.
✅ Consultants bring Forge-ready expertise immediately, eliminating months of costly internal upskilling and accelerating time-to-value.
2– Platform Evolution & Stability
Rapid Forge updates can break existing functionality overnight, creating unexpected maintenance overhead. At the same time, continuous monitoring becomes non-negotiable but drains internal resources. Feature deprecations can also impact carefully planned development roadmaps, forcing costly pivots.
❌ Platform instability threatens business continuity and increases technical debt.
✅ Consulting teams can track Atlassian updates proactively and adapt your apps before breaking changes impact operations.
3– Technical Limitations & Constraints
Runtime limits force complete data model redesigns that internal teams often get wrong. Storage caps also require architectural overhauls beyond typical in-house capabilities. API parity gaps may eliminate beloved existing functionality, creating user adoption resistance.
❌ Poor architectural decisions create scalability bottlenecks that require expensive rewrites.
✅ Expert consultants can design future-proof architectures from day one, avoiding costly technical debt.
4– Business Continuity Risks
Downtime during transition periods threatens user productivity and revenue. Staff training on new interfaces disrupts established workflows, further reducing team efficiency. Temporary loss of advanced features during rebuild phases impacts operational capabilities.
❌ Operational disruption directly impacts bottom-line performance.
✅ Experienced consultants minimize business disruption through phased rollouts and comprehensive change management strategies.
Strategic Forge Rebuild Planning Framework
Success demands structure. Fortunately, at ij-solutions, we guide clients through our proven 8-step framework to ensure continuity, compliance, and efficiency at every stage of Forge rebuild.
- Assess & Document: We catalog every feature, workflow, dependency, and data model in your current app, creating the blueprint for what must be preserved versus reimagined.
- Analyze Forge Capabilities: We study platform quotas and check feature parity against your requirements, identifying functionality gaps before they derail timelines.
- Design New Architecture: We define your app structure with Forge constraints in mind, planning data migration pathways and mapping permissions alongside UI/UX considerations.
- Prepare Migration Plan: We prioritize critical features ruthlessly and set up isolated development environments with comprehensive test strategies that determine launch success.
- Develop & Iterate: We build modules incrementally while testing continuously, refactoring as we discover what works versus what looks good on paper.
- Migrate Data & Integrations: We back up existing data multiple times before implementing import scripts, validating data integrity obsessively to preserve user trust.
- User Acceptance & Rollout: We pilot with key users for honest feedback, train staff thoroughly, and iterate based on real usage patterns, not assumptions.
- Monitor & Optimize: We track performance metrics religiously and respond to platform updates quickly because continuous improvement isn’t optional, it’s survival.
Why Expert Forge Consultants Accelerate Success
As the Forge specialists, we aim to deliver measurable value:
- Strategic planning with comprehensive rebuild roadmaps aligned to your business objectives.
- Technical execution through expert development teams with specialized Forge experience.
- Change management support, including user training and adoption strategies.
- Ongoing optimization based on platform evolution and performance monitoring.
Atlassian’s cloud-first future makes Forge inevitable for serious enterprise applications. The question isn’t whether to rebuild, but whether you’ll do it efficiently with expert guidance or expensively through painful trial-and-error.
Ready to navigate your Forge rebuild successfully? Let ij-solutions help you plan a smart, cost-effective app development strategy that protects your investment and accelerates your timeline.