So the trick is, find ways to work around the issues. Ask the team to help. Make heroes of all of you. The funny thing is that if you become valuable enough, you can then push to get other environments in the mix - I really want “xyz” Mr Boss as this is becoming popular in the market and it’s also important to retain staff. If seen as a leader who delivers, they’d be nuts not to listen to this.

i really like this article. Nine Months ago i was also faced with this same issue. we had ancient app with a lot of bugs and was practically frustrating everyone in my Team.

i tried to change things, but the CTO and initial developer of the app was not flexible to change, he preferred a one way traffic.

i found out after all struggles, that my personal growth, responsibility, leadership, salary, benefits, flexibility, were not really improving, then i decided to leave and do things one at a time.

this has really help me and now i really am happy.

I have since left this world behind and now work freelance. At the time my team probably felt that management had finally beaten me into submission. Perhaps they were right, though I prefer to think that I had achieved more than I had hoped to and stayed longer than I intended.

Despite the stress, frustration and pain, I look back on it as perhaps the most rewarding period of my career so far. It shaped who I am and convinced me that change is possible and worth striving for.

My advice would be to have an exit strategy, but to stick it out and see what you can do to make things better. It could be your legacy.

And I also echo the sentiment that free advice is worth what you pay for it! :)