PYCON UK

DeprecationWarning: documenting your software’s last days

Daniel Beck | Saturday 15:30 | Room A

It could happen to you: your project is canceled, your team is “reorganized”, or your company is closing its doors. Some or all of your software, service, or API may not be long for this world. What will you say to the people using it? In this talk, you’ll learn how to cope when it’s time to break bad news to your users.

Whether you’re deprecating significant features or shutting down entirely, you still have a chance to make life better—or at least a little less worse—for the people who have come to rely on your work. In this talk, you’ll learn how to:

  • cope with a stressful situation
  • plan your shutdown communications to make sure no users get left behind
  • let your users down easy with the appropriate voice, tone, and documentation

From your initial announcement to your software's last day, you’ll learn how to say goodbye in a way that’s good for you and your soon-to-be-former users.

Link to video