Techniques for downgrading of database software. Code areas that may affect downgradability may be delineated with code markers. Changes to these sections can be made to prevent a new database version from being built unless a process is taken to indicate that any new features be designated as available, but not yet allowed for N software releases. This provides a downgrade window of N releases that will support functionality currently allowed by the database. In response to receiving a downgrade request to a target older database software version, that request can be permitted if all the database features are available or allowed in the target version. If at least one of the database features is not available in the target version, the downgrade requested is not permitted. If the request is permitted, the downgrade operation is commenced.