diff --git a/app.js b/app.js
index 089609a7..3ea5e067 100644
--- a/app.js
+++ b/app.js
@@ -6,6 +6,13 @@ var cli = require('./lib/app/cli'),
 require('colors');
 
 var express = require('express'),
+    logger = require('morgan'),
+    bodyParser = require('body-parser'),
+    cookieParser = require('cookie-parser'),
+    session = require('express-session'),
+    csrf = require('csurf'),
+    methodOverride = require('method-override'),
+    serveStatic = require('serve-static'),
     consolidate = require('consolidate'),
     hogan = require('hogan.js');
 
@@ -153,17 +160,18 @@ function initServer (args) {
         .set('view engine', 'html')
         .engine('html', consolidate.hogan)
 
-        .use(express.logger('dev'))
-        .use(express.bodyParser())
+        .use(logger('dev'))
+        .use(bodyParser.json())
+        .use(bodyParser.urlencoded({ extended: true }))
 
-        .use(express.cookieParser())
-        .use(express.session({key: 'express-admin', secret: 'very secret - required'}))
+        .use(cookieParser())
+        .use(session({ key: 'express-admin', secret: 'very secret - required' }))
         .use(r.auth.status)// session middleware
-        .use(express.csrf())
+        .use(csrf())
         
-        .use(express.methodOverride())
-        .use(express.static(path.join(__dirname, 'public')))
-        .use(express.static(path.join(__dirname, 'node_modules/express-admin-static')));
+        .use(methodOverride())
+        .use(serveStatic(path.join(__dirname, 'public')))
+        .use(serveStatic(path.join(__dirname, 'node_modules/express-admin-static')));
 
     if (!args.debug) app.set('view cache', true);
 
@@ -172,7 +180,7 @@ function initServer (args) {
         var assets = args.custom[key].public;
         if (!assets || !assets.local || !assets.local.path ||
             !fs.existsSync(assets.local.path)) continue;
-        app.use(express.static(assets.local.path));
+        app.use(serveStatic(assets.local.path));
     }
 
     // pass server wide variables
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index dfdcf1be..b7bab9ff 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -23,7 +23,14 @@
         "url"   : "git://github.com/simov/express-admin.git"
     },
     "dependencies": {
-        "express"          : "3.4.4",
+        "express"          : "4.4.4",
+        "morgan"           : "1.1.1",
+        "body-parser"      : "1.4.3",
+        "cookie-parser"    : "1.3.1",
+        "express-session"  : "1.5.1",
+        "csurf"            : "1.2.2",
+        "method-override"  : "2.0.2",
+        "serve-static"     : "1.2.3",
         "consolidate"      : "0.9.1",
         "hogan.js"         : "2.0.0",
         "mysql"            : "2.2.0",
@@ -50,4 +57,4 @@
     "scripts": {
         "test": "make test"
     }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}