Feature Flag Best Practices For 2022

Feature flag best practices will help you get the most out of your feature flags and avoid common mistakes. When it comes to releasing new features, deploying this technology can help your team move faster and with fewer risks. This guide will break down how you can leverage feature flags to deliver exceptional user experiences and push your projects further.

By following some feature flag best practices, you can take control of your entire release process and execute swift rollouts. If you want to release new software features with speed and accuracy, you need feature flagging tools in your corner. Feature flagging is a game-changer for ambitious software teams that want to roll out new and experimental features without delay.

What is feature flagging?

Feature flagging (or feature toggling) is a technique used by software development teams to hide features or functionality from users. By using feature flags, you can control when a new feature is released and to whom. This process allows developers to push code changes live without affecting the user experience and roll back if needed.

Feature flagging is an essential tool for managing risk when releasing new features. It gives you the ability to quickly roll back features if something goes wrong. By using feature flags, you can release with confidence knowing that you can control the rollout of new features. This is key for development teams that need to move fast and ship features without delay.

Why do you need feature flags?

Using feature flags, you can enable and disable features for different user segments at the click of a button. This gives you complete control over your release process and helps you manage risk. With feature flags, you can release new features to a small group of beta users first and then roll them out to everyone else once you're confident that it's working as expected.

Feature flags also give you the ability to A/B test different features and see how they perform before releasing them to everyone. This is a great way to gather feedback from specific user segments and make sure that your new features are delivering the best possible user experience. 

3 Feature Flag Best Practices

Recognize When Feature Flags Are Necessary

When you use a feature flag, it should have a particular goal in mind. When the flag's objective has been met, consider removing it from the code. As there are many possible use cases for feature flags, every scenario is unique and must have its own timeline. Keeping feature flag deployment to a minimum enables your development team to focus on simplicity.

Feature flags may be used by software development teams to tailor content to user groups. A project manager wanting to target a user group and provide them with access to certain features might use feature flags. For example, if this group of users is paying for premium access to the software, the team could utilize feature flags to give premium users access to extra features.

Review Processes For Feature Flags

You should carefully consider including IF statements in your software code. We propose using feature flags cautiously and with a specific goal in mind. Introducing unnecessary code to your software may result in avoidable difficulties. Treat feature flags like production code. Always give careful consideration to any modifications made to check that they are necessary.

To ensure all feature flags are rigorously reviewed, you can add approval flows to your team processes. This is an essential part of feature flag deployment. While feature flagging can play a pivotal role in accelerating the rollout of exciting new features, it's important to use them sparingly and with caution. After all, mistakes can happen. This is why rigorous reviews are essential.

For instance, a team leader targeting a user segment may accidentally disable a new feature for all users. With tremendous power over the user experience, it's crucial that review processes are in place for anyone utilizing feature flags. This is particularly important for developers managing platforms and applications with vast user bases.

Leverage Feature Flag Management Tools For Consistency

There are many different feature flag management tools available on the market. It's important to select a tool that's right for your team and development process. The tool you choose should be easy to use and allow you to manage feature flags across multiple environments. With the right tool, you can avoid convoluted workflows and ensure that everyone is on the same page.

Feature flag management tools can minimize the risks of deploying features to a live production environment. They can also help you keep track of which features are enabled for different user groups. This is vital for maintaining a consistent user experience and preventing any unwanted surprises. To create and coordinate flags with ease, you need a solution like ConfigCat.

ConfigCat is a cross-platform feature flag service for software development teams. If you want to deliver successful feature flag deployments, you need access to ConfigCat. This is a must-have for any organization utilizing feature flags to manage their software development process.

Feature Flag Testing (Best Tool For 2022)

ConfigCat is ready to support the rapid production and deployment of feature flags. When it comes to feature flag management, you need ConfigCat in your corner. Even non-technical team members can understand how feature flags work with ConfigCat's user-friendly interface. Are you ready to get started? Take ConfigCat for a test drive today. Deploy any time, release when confident.