Define three exits

Instance recovery recreates the same product and version after failure.

Same-platform migration moves an app or installation to another deployment of the same platform.

Cross-platform exit preserves the business capability without requiring the original platform.

A JSON app export may be strong evidence for same-platform migration and weak evidence for cross-platform exit. A CSV may preserve rows while losing screens, queries, permissions, automations, and audit history.

Inventory seven packages

The drill must account for:

  1. interface and component definitions;
  2. queries, scripts, and workflow logic;
  3. internal business data;
  4. external data-source definitions;
  5. uploaded files;
  6. users, roles, permissions, and identity mappings; and
  7. release history, logs, schedules, secrets, and operating instructions.

Label every package open format, vendor format, reconstructable, or unavailable.

Apply vendor documentation precisely

Budibase's server-migration guide distinguishes individual app export from a full self-hosted installation backup and notes that external data sources must be backed up separately.

ToolJet's application export documentation describes JSON export, version selection, optional ToolJet table schemas, and module behavior during import.

Appsmith's import-export announcement describes moving application JSON between Appsmith environments. Because that source is older, current behavior and edition boundaries require direct verification.

These facts show useful mechanisms. They do not establish that an app becomes ordinary standalone source code or runs on another vendor's platform.

Run a timed drill

Choose one non-production app and a fixed cutoff:

  1. export every documented package;
  2. record tool, edition, version, and credentials required;
  3. import into a clean same-platform destination;
  4. reconnect test data sources without copying production secrets;
  5. verify users, permissions, files, workflows, and a critical action;
  6. estimate a cross-platform reconstruction from the exported artifacts; and
  7. record missing evidence and elapsed operator time.

Do not award a portability score for a download that was never restored.

Publish the result

Package Exported Same-platform verified Cross-platform usable Missing
Interface
Logic
Data
Files
Permissions
Operations

The recommendation should state the acceptable exit. A managed platform may be the right choice even when cross-platform reconstruction is expensive. The buyer should make that trade consciously, preserve the artifacts that do move, and rehearse the exit it actually requires.