Define what rollback means
A rollback restores a known working release and its required configuration. For a static website, that includes HTML, scripts, styles, metadata files and referenced assets. Replacing only the homepage may leave deep routes on the broken version. Write down the restoration unit so the team can act on a specific artifact rather than improvising a collection of individual file copies.
Retain identifiable release artifacts
Store the previous tested output with its source revision, build inputs and publication time. A Git commit alone may not reproduce the same files later if dependencies or remote content have changed. Retaining the artifact reduces that uncertainty and preserves the relationship between what was tested and what can be restored. Decide retention according to the site’s deployment process.
Consider an asset compatibility example
Suppose release B publishes new HTML that references app.b2.js. A rollback to release A must restore HTML referencing app.a1.js while keeping that asset available. Existing browser sessions may still request B’s assets after the switch. Retaining both versions for a suitable overlap avoids turning a rollback into a new set of missing-file errors.
Include cache behavior in the plan
Changing origin files does not instantly change every cached response. Know which document paths may need revalidation or a targeted invalidation, and distinguish them from immutable versioned assets. Avoid purging first if the origin still serves the broken version, because the next request can refill the cache with the same content. Coordinate restoration and cache updates in a deliberate order.
Separate reversible frontend changes
Static file restoration cannot reverse a backend schema change, a sent message or a third-party side effect. Before release, identify whether the frontend depends on a new API contract that the older version no longer understands. Keep compatible rollout windows where possible and document cases where a forward fix is safer than restoring an incompatible client.
Practice the verification path
Test the recovery procedure in an appropriate nonproduction environment. After a real restoration, inspect the release identifier, homepage, deep routes and main interactive task. Monitor missing assets and runtime errors, and record why the release was rolled back. A practiced, evidence-based process is more useful than a promise that someone could always upload the old files if necessary.
Further reading
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