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In his lightning talk titled 'Deprecatable' at the Rocky Mountain Ruby 2011 conference, Jeremy Hinegardner discusses the challenges API developers face when needing to deprecate parts of their APIs. He emphasizes the importance of managing API deprecation thoughtfully to ensure that users can smoothly transition to new versions without breaking their existing code.

Key points covered in the talk include:  
- The common dilemma for API developers when they need to remove or change API features, which often breaks existing implementations.  
- The introduction of a gem called 'deprecate,' developed by Hinegardner, which helps manage deprecation by providing notifications about deprecated methods and their usage.  
- Features of the 'deprecate' gem, including:  
  - Alerts whenever a deprecated method is called, pinpointing the exact location in the code.  
  - Ability to customize alert frequency through environment variables.  
  - An exit handler that generates reports on the usage frequency of deprecated methods, which can be output to HTML files.  
- Hinegardner showcases an example using the 'deprecate' gem by deprecating a method called 'deprecate_me.' Within this example, he highlights how developers can specify actions for users, such as telling them what to do instead of using the deprecated method.  
- He encourages API developers to be considerate towards users and to help them adapt to changes by offering support, as he did with contributions to the Cucumber and Kappa Bear codebases.  
- Hinegardner reflects on the development journey of the 'deprecate' gem, mentioning the fun of using Ruby's metaprogramming capabilities and the potential of the gem to be extended by others.  
In conclusion, Hinegardner prompts attendees to consider their own API maintenance practices and to adopt tools like the 'deprecate' gem to facilitate smoother transitions for users, reinforcing the value of thoughtful API design.

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