feature flag cleanup after launch

After launch, feature flags should be cleaned up deliberately so they don’t accumulate into “flag debt.” A good cleanup process looks like this:

1. Confirm the flag is fully rolled out

• Verify the feature is enabled for all intended users/segments.
• Check metrics, logs, and support feedback for any issues.
• Make sure there’s no active rollback plan still depending on the flag.

2. Remove dead code paths

• Delete the old branch controlled by the flag.
• Keep the codebase on the “new” path only.
• If the flag was used in multiple services, clean each one up.

3. Remove the flag definition

• Delete it from your feature flag service/config.
• Remove any environment variables, config entries, or database records tied to it.
• If the flag is shared across clients, update them too.

4. Clean up tests

• Remove tests that only existed for the old path.
• Update unit/integration tests to reflect the permanent behavior.
• Add tests for the final behavior if needed.

5. Remove observability tied to the flag

• Delete temporary metrics, dashboards, alerts, and logs created for the rollout.
• Keep only monitoring that is still useful long-term.

6. Update documentation

• Remove mentions of the flag from docs, runbooks, release notes, and design docs.
• Record the launch completion if your team tracks flag lifecycles.

7. Make cleanup part of the workflow

• Assign an owner and expiry date when a flag is created.
• Track flags in a registry or ticketing system.
• Schedule cleanup in the same sprint or shortly after launch.

Good practice

Use a naming convention and metadata like:

• owner
• created date
• intended removal date
• related ticket
• rollout status

If you want, I can also provide:

• a feature flag cleanup checklist
• a Jira ticket template
• or a code review policy to prevent stale flags.