App Engine Dev Tips #10 : Disable / Deleting an Application
December 2017: Please note that this post has not been updated for a while and there could be differences in terms of commands, screenshots and problems in running the code.
You would tend to think that Deleting an Application should be a straight forward task via the Admin console but it is not and it shouldn’t be.
One thing to keep in mind before you delete the application: Are you really sure you want to delete the application? Assuming that you have made a conscious decision to delete it, be aware of the fact that once the application is deleted, you will not get back the Application ID. So if you had spent a good amount of time thinking about coming up with a nice and unique Application ID, keep in mind that its gone.
Now that we have got that point out of the way, let us go ahead with deleting the application:
- Login to App Engine (http://appengine.google.com) and click on the application that needs to be deleted.
- In the Admin Console, click on Administration -> Application Settings.
- In the right pane, you will see a Disable or Delete Application section as shown below:
4. Click on the Disable Application button. This will bring up the screen shown below. If you want to temporarily stop your application, this is the best way to do it. Click on Disable Application Now.
5. Once you click on Disable Application Now, your application will stop serving requests. You will also be given confirmation of your action via the screenshot below:
6. If you want to Re-enable it at any time, come back here and click on the Re-enable Application Now.
7. But if you want to permanently delete the application, then click on the Request Permanent Deletion. Doing so, will mark your application for deletion. App Engine will actually delete your application only after 72 hours. You can revert back the request if you want. You will also get an email indicating that you have marked the application for deletion.
8. This is a good step by App Engine because you don’t want to regret the deletion action that you have done in haste. Keep in mind that till the Application is actually deleted, the application (whether disabled or in the process of deletion) will still count towards your quota of number of applications (10). Once it is permanently deleted, only then a slot will free up.
