What to do with unused, useful, code? [closed]

Question

You when you spend all day getting a function to work just right, but then an architecture change causes the function to no longer be used? But you know that the code is useful enough that if the architecture ever sways back, that function will be again useful?

It seems wrong to delete the function before you do the check in but then again it takes up space as a unused function if you check it in.

Answer 1

As an answer, please consider this short story:

The dead code Collector: Bring out yer dead code.

Man with dead code : Here's one.

The dead code Collector: That'll be ninepence.

The dead code: I'm not dead code.

The dead code Collector: What?

Man with dead code : Nothing. There's your ninepence.

The dead code: I'm not dead code.

The dead code Collector: 'Ere, he says he's not dead code.

Man with dead code : Yes he is.

The dead code: I'm not.

The dead code Collector: He isn't.

Man with dead code : Well, he will be soon, he's very ill.

The dead code: I'm getting better.

Man with dead code : No you're not, you'll be stone dead code in a moment.

The dead code Collector: Well, I can't take him like that. It's against regulations.

The dead code: I don't want to go on the cart.

Man with dead code : Oh, don't be such a baby.

The dead code Collector: I can't take him.

The dead code: I feel fine.

Man with dead code : Oh, do me a favor.

The dead code Collector: I can't.

Man with dead code : Well, can you hang around for a couple of minutes? He won't be long.

The dead code Collector: I promised I'd be at the Robinsons'. They've lost nine today.

Man with dead code : Well, when's your next round?

The dead code Collector: Thursday.

The dead code: I think I'll go for a walk.

Man with dead code : You're not fooling anyone, you know. Isn't there anything you could do?

The dead code: I feel happy. I feel happy.

[the dead code Collector glances up and down the street furtively, then silences the dead code with his a whack of his Ctrl-X]

Man with dead code : Ah, thank you very much.