Decommissioning Old Features Safely
Over a site's life, some features stop being useful — a promotion ends, a tool falls out of use, or a section is replaced. Removing them tidily is just as important as building new things, and doing it carelessly can break more than it fixes.
This article explains how we retire features without nasty side effects.
Retiring Without Disruption
Removing a feature carelessly can break links, confuse returning visitors, or take down something else that quietly depended on it. A tidy retirement plans for all of these before anything is switched off.
We map what relies on a feature, set up redirects for any addresses people may have bookmarked, and keep a backup so the change can be reversed if needed.
- Confirm the feature is truly unused.
- Map anything that depends on it.
- Redirect old addresses to sensible alternatives.
- Remove, test, and keep a backup.
Why Remove Anything at All
Unused features are not harmless. They still need updating, can hide security risks, and add clutter that makes every future change harder.
- Less code to maintain and secure.
- A simpler, faster site for visitors.
- Fewer places for problems to hide.
Removing It Safely
- Confirm the feature really is no longer needed.
- Check what else depends on it.
- Set up redirects for any removed pages.
- Remove it, test thoroughly, and keep a backup.
If you need a hand with any of this, your Progressive Robot delivery team is ready to help. Raise a ticket from the Support area of your client portal or speak to your account manager and we will guide you through the next steps.