Component Sunset Process

Component sunset process defines the structured approach to retiring components from a design system. Sunsetting involves more than simply deleting code; it requires planning, communication, migration support, and careful timing to minimize disruption to consuming teams. A well-executed sunset process maintains consumer trust while enabling design system evolution.

What Is Component Sunset Process

Component sunsetting encompasses all activities involved in removing a component from a design system. This includes deciding to sunset, announcing the decision, providing migration paths, supporting consumers through transition, and finally removing the component. The process typically spans multiple release cycles.

Components are sunset for various reasons: replacement by better alternatives, lack of usage, maintenance burden, or strategic direction changes. Regardless of the reason, the sunset process should treat consumers respectfully by providing adequate time and support for migration.

How Component Sunset Process Works

Effective component sunsetting follows a phased approach that balances design system needs with consumer impact. Each phase has specific activities and communication requirements.

The decision phase evaluates whether sunsetting is appropriate. Usage analytics reveal how many consumers depend on the component. Impact assessment identifies migration complexity. Alternative analysis ensures suitable replacements exist. Stakeholder input validates the decision aligns with broader strategy.

The announcement phase communicates the sunset decision to consumers. Release notes explain the decision rationale and introduce the timeline. Documentation marks the component as deprecated with clear visual indicators. Direct communication through newsletters or meetings reaches active consumers.

The migration phase supports consumers in transitioning away from the component. Migration guides provide step-by-step instructions. Codemods automate mechanical transformations where possible. Office hours or dedicated support channels address consumer questions. Progress tracking identifies consumers who may need additional help.

The removal phase eliminates the component from the design system. This typically coincides with a major version release. Pre-removal verification ensures migration is substantially complete. Post-removal support addresses any lingering issues from consumers who missed the deadline.

Key Considerations

• Usage data should inform sunset decisions and timelines
• Replacement components should be available before announcing sunset
• Migration complexity affects required timeline length
• High-profile consumers may need personalized migration support
• Post-sunset feedback informs future sunset process improvements

Common Questions

How should teams handle components with no direct replacement?

Sometimes components are sunset without a one-to-one replacement. The functionality might be distributed across multiple new components, deprecated in favor of native platform features, or simply removed because it was rarely used.

In these cases, migration guidance should explain the recommended approach for each common use case. For distributed functionality, guides map old component props to combinations of new components. For platform feature replacement, guides explain the native alternative. For functionality removal, guides help consumers assess whether they need custom solutions.

Providing code snippets or starter implementations helps consumers who must build custom replacements. Community channels can connect consumers with similar needs to share solutions. Extended timelines may be appropriate when no direct replacement exists.

What metrics indicate readiness for component removal?

Several metrics help determine when a component is safe to remove. Usage analytics showing near-zero imports indicate migration is complete. Deprecation warning logs revealing minimal occurrences confirm few active uses remain. Consumer surveys or acknowledgments provide qualitative confirmation.

Zero usage is ideal but not always achievable. Some teams establish thresholds such as less than 1% of peak usage before removal. Others require explicit acknowledgment from known consumers. The appropriate threshold depends on organizational risk tolerance and consumer relationships.

Staged removal approaches can provide additional safety. Moving the component to a separate legacy package maintains availability while removing it from the main bundle. This approach lets lagging consumers continue using the component while signaling its unofficial status.

Summary

Component sunset process provides a structured approach to retiring design system components. Phased execution through decision, announcement, migration, and removal stages balances evolution with consumer stability. Clear communication and robust migration support throughout the process maintains consumer trust.