Fail docs build on broken links before release
Treat broken documentation links as a release blocker so product, support, and search never inherit avoidable dead ends.
Why this can grow a startup
Docs debt often shows up as a small broken link before it becomes a trust problem. A setup page moves, an onboarding article gets renamed, or a migration leaves old anchors behind. Docusaurus is explicit that production builds can fail on broken links, and that default is useful because it turns link integrity into release hygiene instead of a cleanup chore. When the build stops on broken routes, the team catches credibility leaks while the change is still fresh. That protects search paths, support macros, changelog links, and in-product help links with one rule.
Source-backed example
Docusaurus documents `onBrokenLinks` as a production-build setting and says the default behavior is to throw an error so teams never ship broken links.
Source-reported evidence
Source: Docusaurus Docs: docusaurus.config.js
Docusaurus defaults `onBrokenLinks` to `throw`, and broken-link detection runs on production builds.
Attributed to the cited source; GrowthDex has not independently verified it. Use this as context, not as a forecast, benchmark, or recommended target.
Evidence scope: claims and metrics are attributed to the linked source; GrowthDex has not independently replicated the reported result. Check the original context and validate fit before applying it. Read the evidence methodology.
Source discovered: May 29, 2026
When to use it
Use this when Documentation, SEO, Product is relevant to technical seo, release hygiene, docs ops and you can run a bounded test with a free budget.
When not to use it
Do not use it as a substitute for customer evidence, a clear owner, or a measurable stop condition. Local platform rules and market behavior still need checking.
How to do it
- Choose one target segment and define the exact next action this tactic should prompt.
- Adapt the tactic to Documentation and SEO, using evidence from Docusaurus Docs: docusaurus.config.js as context—not as a promised result.
- Record a baseline for: Qualified search visitors who complete the intended next action. Set a guardrail that would make you pause the test.
- Run a narrow pilot and choose a test window that fits the normal decision or use cycle; do not scale before you have observed the full cycle.
- Compare the signal with its baseline. Scale only if the intended action improves without crossing the guardrail; otherwise revise one variable or stop and record what you learned.
Compare a stack for your situation
Compare source-backed tactics against your product, stage, budget and channel strengths, then choose one experiment to test.
Explore the context
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Apply this with an operator
Turn isolated search tactics into a crawlable visibility system tied to demand and proof.