Feature release strategies

So far, we have focused on releasing the infrastructure and the service as a whole, but now, we will focus on releasing the features within the service. For feature releases, we introduce a release style called the feature flag and release train.

Feature flag

Feature flag deployment is a technique used in software development and delivery that involves toggling on or off certain features of an application without deploying new code. This method allows for more granular control over feature release, testing, and rollback, enabling a more dynamic and flexible approach to software management.

The main drawback of using feature flags for anything is that feature flags can easily become a technical liability. Unused feature flags can clutter up the code base. Feature flags enable features for specific users or groups, as shown in the following diagram:

Figure 5.12 – Feature flag

Dark launches are typically released...