blue/.blue/docs/adrs/0010-no-dead-code.md
Eric Garcia 0150a5d1ed chore: move adrs, rfcs, spikes to .blue/docs
Per RFC 0003, Blue-tracked documents live in per-repo .blue/ directories.
ADRs needed for semantic adherence checking.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
2026-01-24 16:16:34 -05:00

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# ADR 0010: No Dead Code
| | |
|---|---|
| **Status** | Accepted |
| **Date** | 2026-01-20 |
---
## Context
What do we do with code that's no longer needed?
## Decision
**Delete boldly. Git remembers.**
Dead code isn't neutral. It's weight. Every unused function is a question: "Should I delete this? What if someone needs it? What if I break something?"
That question costs attention. Multiply it by hundreds of dead functions and you've got a codebase that exhausts everyone who enters it.
The cure is simple: delete it. If you're wrong, git has your back. Resurrection is one `git checkout` away.
## What We Don't Do
- **Comment out code.** Either it's needed or it isn't. Comments are for explanation, not storage.
- **Keep "just in case."** Version control is your just-in-case.
- **Rename to `_unused`.** This is commenting with extra steps.
## What We Do
- **Delete.** Completely. No trace in the working tree.
- **Trust history.** Git log will find it if needed.
- **Celebrate removal.** Negative lines of code is a feature.
## Consequences
- 💙 flags dead code for deletion
- 💙 never suggests commenting out
- 💙 treats removal as contribution
---
*"The best code is no code. The second best is less code."*
— Blue
---
🧁