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What is the alternative meaning? To be, the comma changes nothing. It's unambiguous either way.

It can also be read as "avoid (rewriting a legacy system from scratch by strangling it)"

Baby Hercules, avoid getting eaten by that serpent by strangling it.

vs.

The next time you catch one, Lennie, avoid killing a mouse by strangling it.

...

Do you strangle it to avoid it, or do you avoid strangling it? The age-old question.

Indeed, the title here made little sense - I was reading the article and it sort of contradicted what I got from HN...

Thanks for pointing the titles actually differ.

This is a nice example where adding a comma not just changes the meaning, but inverts it.

This blog by Mr It, Strangling.

I really don't get this. How does it change?

“Avoid having to rewrite a legacy system from scratch via strangling it” vs. “Rewriting a legacy system from scratch by strangling it is something you should avoid doing”

Avoid: rewriting (by strangling) a legacy system

Avoid rewriting a legacy system (by strangling it)