diff --git a/.github/workflows/python-lint.yml b/.github/workflows/python-lint.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 29e0fcb29..000000000
--- a/.github/workflows/python-lint.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,17 +0,0 @@
-name: Lint
-
-on: [push, pull_request]
-
-jobs:
-  lint:
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
-      - uses: actions/setup-python@v5
-        with:
-          python-version: "3.13"
-      - uses: psf/black@stable
-        with:
-          options: "--check --verbose"
-          src: "./openevolve ./tests ./examples ./scripts"
-          use_pyproject: true
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index 184b790a9..d2620160b 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -19,14 +19,6 @@ source env/bin/activate  # On Windows: env\Scripts\activate
 pip install -e ".[dev]"
 ```
 
-## Code Style
-
-We follow the [Black](https://black.readthedocs.io/) code style. Please format your code before submitting a pull request:
-
-```bash
-black openevolve tests examples
-```
-
 ## Pull Request Process
 
 1. Create a new branch for your feature or bugfix: `git checkout -b feat-your-feature-name`
diff --git a/openevolve/database.py b/openevolve/database.py
index b23b660dd..6e2cd8492 100644
--- a/openevolve/database.py
+++ b/openevolve/database.py
@@ -662,13 +662,38 @@ def _update_archive(self, program: Program) -> None:
             self.archive.add(program.id)
             return
 
-        # Otherwise, find worst program in archive
-        archive_programs = [self.programs[pid] for pid in self.archive]
-        worst_program = min(archive_programs, key=lambda p: safe_numeric_average(p.metrics))
+        # Clean up stale references and get valid archive programs
+        valid_archive_programs = []
+        stale_ids = []
 
-        # Replace if new program is better
-        if self._is_better(program, worst_program):
-            self.archive.remove(worst_program.id)
+        for pid in self.archive:
+            if pid in self.programs:
+                valid_archive_programs.append(self.programs[pid])
+            else:
+                stale_ids.append(pid)
+
+        # Remove stale references from archive
+        for stale_id in stale_ids:
+            self.archive.discard(stale_id)
+            logger.debug(f"Removing stale program {stale_id} from archive")
+
+        # If archive is now not full after cleanup, just add the new program
+        if len(self.archive) < self.config.archive_size:
+            self.archive.add(program.id)
+            return
+
+        # Find worst program among valid programs
+        if valid_archive_programs:
+            worst_program = min(
+                valid_archive_programs, key=lambda p: safe_numeric_average(p.metrics)
+            )
+
+            # Replace if new program is better
+            if self._is_better(program, worst_program):
+                self.archive.remove(worst_program.id)
+                self.archive.add(program.id)
+        else:
+            # No valid programs in archive, just add the new one
             self.archive.add(program.id)
 
     def _update_best_program(self, program: Program) -> None:
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index fa4424fe8..267597a8d 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ build-backend = "setuptools.build_meta"
 
 [project]
 name = "openevolve"
-version = "0.0.3"
+version = "0.0.4"
 description = "Open-source implementation of AlphaEvolve"
 readme = "README.md"
 requires-python = ">=3.9"
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 200863df2..bc5acd412 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 setup(
     name="openevolve",
-    version="0.0.3",
+    version="0.0.4",
     packages=find_packages(),
     include_package_data=True,
 )