Dead code removal with coding agents

Dead code removal with coding agents can lower maintenance costs and reduce build and search clutter, but it requires caution because apparently unused code may still be activated through configuration, reflection, framework conventions, plugins, dynamic imports, or external API consumers. Reliable decisions should combine compiler and lint signals with reference searches, dependency and package-consumer checks, test coverage, version history, deployment configuration, and confirmation from code owners, while documenting the strengths and limits of each signal. Removals should be made in small, reviewable slices without unrelated formatting or redesign, with generated artifacts regenerated through documented tooling and shared tests preserved. After deletion, teams should run type checks, linting, targeted tests, builds, and runtime checks for discovery mechanisms such as routes, scheduled jobs, plugins, command registries, and dependency injection, while comparing observable behavior and bundle contents where relevant. Automated and local code review can supplement deterministic build gates by checking for hidden registrations, public exports, initialization effects, and weakened tests, and pull requests should clearly record removed entry points, evidence, generated changes, validation steps, and any uncertain consumers that should block deletion.

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