diff --git a/crates/workspace/Cargo.toml b/crates/workspace/Cargo.toml
index b68636b50f..54e7eaf463 100644
--- a/crates/workspace/Cargo.toml
+++ b/crates/workspace/Cargo.toml
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@ client = { path = "../client" }
 collections = { path = "../collections" }
 context_menu = { path = "../context_menu" }
 drag_and_drop = { path = "../drag_and_drop" }
-db = { path = "../db" }
 fs = { path = "../fs" }
 gpui = { path = "../gpui" }
 language = { path = "../language" }
diff --git a/crates/workspace/src/workspace.rs b/crates/workspace/src/workspace.rs
index 5f6a89a325..ece8cedfb1 100644
--- a/crates/workspace/src/workspace.rs
+++ b/crates/workspace/src/workspace.rs
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@ use anyhow::{anyhow, Context, Result};
 use call::ActiveCall;
 use client::{proto, Client, PeerId, TypedEnvelope, UserStore};
 use collections::{hash_map, HashMap, HashSet};
-use db::{SerializedItem, SerializedItemKind};
 use dock::{DefaultItemFactory, Dock, ToggleDockButton};
 use drag_and_drop::DragAndDrop;
 use fs::{self, Fs};
@@ -78,9 +77,6 @@ type FollowableItemBuilders = HashMap<
     ),
 >;
 
-type ItemDeserializers =
-    HashMap<SerializedItemKind, fn(SerializedItem, &mut ViewContext<Pane>) -> Box<dyn ItemHandle>>;
-
 #[derive(Clone, PartialEq)]
 pub struct RemoveWorktreeFromProject(pub WorktreeId);
 
@@ -234,14 +230,6 @@ pub fn register_followable_item<I: FollowableItem>(cx: &mut MutableAppContext) {
     });
 }
 
-pub fn register_deserializable_item<I: Item>(cx: &mut MutableAppContext) {
-    cx.update_default_global(|deserializers: &mut ItemDeserializers, _| {
-        deserializers.insert(I::serialized_item_kind(), |serialized_item, cx| {
-            Box::new(cx.add_view(|cx| I::deserialize(serialized_item, cx)))
-        })
-    });
-}
-
 pub struct AppState {
     pub languages: Arc<LanguageRegistry>,
     pub themes: Arc<ThemeRegistry>,
@@ -260,7 +248,6 @@ pub enum ItemEvent {
     UpdateTab,
     UpdateBreadcrumbs,
     Edit,
-    Serialize(SerializedItem),
 }
 
 pub trait Item: View {
@@ -346,9 +333,6 @@ pub trait Item: View {
     fn breadcrumbs(&self, _theme: &Theme, _cx: &AppContext) -> Option<Vec<ElementBox>> {
         None
     }
-    fn serialized_item_kind() -> SerializedItemKind;
-    fn deserialize(serialized_item: SerializedItem, cx: &mut ViewContext<Self>) -> Self;
-    fn serialize(&self) -> SerializedItem;
 }
 
 pub trait ProjectItem: Item {
@@ -3627,18 +3611,6 @@ mod tests {
         fn to_item_events(_: &Self::Event) -> Vec<ItemEvent> {
             vec![ItemEvent::UpdateTab, ItemEvent::Edit]
         }
-
-        fn serialized_item_kind() -> SerializedItemKind {
-            unimplemented!()
-        }
-
-        fn deserialize(_serialized_item: SerializedItem, _cx: &mut ViewContext<Self>) -> Self {
-            unimplemented!()
-        }
-
-        fn serialize(&self) -> SerializedItem {
-            unimplemented!()
-        }
     }
 
     impl SidebarItem for TestItem {}