Data deletion guidelines

In order to minimize the risk of accidental data loss, GitLab provides guidelines for how to safely use deletion operations in the codebase.

Generally, there are two ways to delete data:

• Mark for deletion: Identifies data for removal at a future date. This is the preferred approach.
• Hard deletion: Immediately and permanently removes data.

Avoid direct hard deletion

Direct calls to hard delete classes should be avoided because it can lead to unintended data loss. Specifically, avoid invoking the following classes:

• Projects::DestroyService
• ProjectDestroyWorker
• Groups::DestroyService
• GroupDestroyWorker

Recommended approach

For projects

Instead of using Projects::DestroyService, use Projects::MarkForDeletionService.

Projects::MarkForDeletionService.new(project, current_user).execute

For groups

Instead of using Groups::DestroyService, use Groups::MarkForDeletionService.

Groups::MarkForDeletionService.new(group, current_user).execute