ADR-024 Feature Flagging Strategy
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# ADR-024: Feature Flagging Strategy
**Date**: 2025-12-12
**Status**: Accepted
**Implemented**: 2026-01-28
**Implementation Plan**: [2026-01-28-adr-024-feature-flags-implementation.md](../plans/2026-01-28-adr-024-feature-flags-implementation.md)
**Status**: Proposed
## Implementation Summary
Feature flag infrastructure fully implemented with 89 new tests (all passing). Total test suite: 3,616 tests passing.
**Backend**:
- Zod-validated schema in `src/config/env.ts` with 6 feature flags
- Service module `src/services/featureFlags.server.ts` with `isFeatureEnabled()`, `getFeatureFlags()`, `getEnabledFeatureFlags()`
- Admin endpoint `GET /api/v1/admin/feature-flags` (requires admin authentication)
- Convenience exports for direct boolean access
**Frontend**:
- Config section in `src/config.ts` with `VITE_FEATURE_*` environment variables
- Type declarations in `src/vite-env.d.ts`
- React hook `useFeatureFlag()` and `useAllFeatureFlags()` in `src/hooks/useFeatureFlag.ts`
- Declarative component `<FeatureFlag>` in `src/components/FeatureFlag.tsx`
**Current Flags**: `bugsinkSync`, `advancedRbac`, `newDashboard`, `betaRecipes`, `experimentalAi`, `debugMode`
---
## Context
As the application grows, there is no way to roll out new features to a subset of users (e.g., for beta testing) or to quickly disable a problematic feature in production without a full redeployment.
Application lacks controlled feature rollout capability. No mechanism for beta testing, quick production disablement, or gradual rollouts without full redeployment. Need type-safe, configuration-based system integrating with ADR-007 Zod validation.
## Decision
We will implement a feature flagging system. This could start with a simple configuration-based approach (defined in `ADR-007`) and evolve to use a dedicated service like **Flagsmith** or **LaunchDarkly**. This ADR will define how feature flags are created, managed, and checked in both the backend and frontend code.
Implement environment-variable-based feature flag system. Backend: Zod-validated schema in `src/config/env.ts` + dedicated service. Frontend: Vite env vars + React hook + declarative component. All flags default `false` (opt-in model). Future migration path to Flagsmith/LaunchDarkly preserved via abstraction layer.
## Consequences
**Positive**: Decouples feature releases from code deployments, reducing risk and allowing for more controlled, gradual rollouts and A/B testing. Enables easier experimentation and faster iteration.
**Negative**: Adds complexity to the codebase with conditional logic around features. Requires careful management of feature flag states to avoid technical debt.
- **Positive**: Decouples releases from deployments reduced risk, gradual rollouts, A/B testing capability
- **Negative**: Conditional logic complexity → requires sunset policy (3-month max after full rollout)
- **Neutral**: Restart required for flag changes (acceptable for current scale, external service removes this constraint)
---
## Implementation Details
### Architecture Overview
```text
Environment Variables (FEATURE_*, VITE_FEATURE_*)
├── Backend ──► src/config/env.ts (Zod) ──► src/services/featureFlags.server.ts
│ │
│ ┌──────────┴──────────┐
│ │ │
│ isFeatureEnabled() getAllFeatureFlags()
│ │
│ Routes/Services
└── Frontend ─► src/config.ts ──► src/hooks/useFeatureFlag.ts
┌──────────────┼──────────────┐
│ │ │
useFeatureFlag() useAllFeatureFlags() <FeatureFlag>
│ Component
Components
```
### File Structure
| File | Purpose | Layer |
| ------------------------------------- | ------------------------ | ---------------- |
| `src/config/env.ts` | Zod schema + env loading | Backend config |
| `src/services/featureFlags.server.ts` | Flag access service | Backend runtime |
| `src/config.ts` | Vite env parsing | Frontend config |
| `src/vite-env.d.ts` | TypeScript declarations | Frontend types |
| `src/hooks/useFeatureFlag.ts` | React hook | Frontend runtime |
| `src/components/FeatureFlag.tsx` | Declarative wrapper | Frontend UI |
### Naming Convention
| Context | Pattern | Example |
| ------------------- | ------------------------- | ---------------------------------- |
| Backend env var | `FEATURE_SNAKE_CASE` | `FEATURE_NEW_DASHBOARD` |
| Frontend env var | `VITE_FEATURE_SNAKE_CASE` | `VITE_FEATURE_NEW_DASHBOARD` |
| Config property | `camelCase` | `config.featureFlags.newDashboard` |
| Hook/function param | `camelCase` literal | `isFeatureEnabled('newDashboard')` |
### Backend Implementation
#### Schema Definition (`src/config/env.ts`)
```typescript
/**
* Feature flags schema (ADR-024).
* All flags default false (disabled) for safety.
*/
const featureFlagsSchema = z.object({
newDashboard: booleanString(false), // FEATURE_NEW_DASHBOARD
betaRecipes: booleanString(false), // FEATURE_BETA_RECIPES
experimentalAi: booleanString(false), // FEATURE_EXPERIMENTAL_AI
debugMode: booleanString(false), // FEATURE_DEBUG_MODE
});
// In loadEnvVars():
featureFlags: {
newDashboard: process.env.FEATURE_NEW_DASHBOARD,
betaRecipes: process.env.FEATURE_BETA_RECIPES,
experimentalAi: process.env.FEATURE_EXPERIMENTAL_AI,
debugMode: process.env.FEATURE_DEBUG_MODE,
},
```
#### Service Module (`src/services/featureFlags.server.ts`)
```typescript
import { config, isDevelopment } from '../config/env';
import { logger } from './logger.server';
export type FeatureFlagName = keyof typeof config.featureFlags;
/**
* Check feature flag state. Logs in development mode.
*/
export function isFeatureEnabled(flagName: FeatureFlagName): boolean {
const enabled = config.featureFlags[flagName];
if (isDevelopment) {
logger.debug({ flag: flagName, enabled }, 'Feature flag checked');
}
return enabled;
}
/**
* Get all flags (admin/debug endpoints).
*/
export function getAllFeatureFlags(): Record<FeatureFlagName, boolean> {
return { ...config.featureFlags };
}
// Convenience exports (evaluated once at startup)
export const isNewDashboardEnabled = config.featureFlags.newDashboard;
export const isBetaRecipesEnabled = config.featureFlags.betaRecipes;
```
#### Usage in Routes
```typescript
import { isFeatureEnabled } from '../services/featureFlags.server';
router.get('/dashboard', async (req, res) => {
if (isFeatureEnabled('newDashboard')) {
return sendSuccess(res, { version: 'v2', data: await getNewDashboardData() });
}
return sendSuccess(res, { version: 'v1', data: await getLegacyDashboardData() });
});
```
### Frontend Implementation
#### Config (`src/config.ts`)
```typescript
const config = {
// ... existing sections ...
featureFlags: {
newDashboard: import.meta.env.VITE_FEATURE_NEW_DASHBOARD === 'true',
betaRecipes: import.meta.env.VITE_FEATURE_BETA_RECIPES === 'true',
experimentalAi: import.meta.env.VITE_FEATURE_EXPERIMENTAL_AI === 'true',
debugMode: import.meta.env.VITE_FEATURE_DEBUG_MODE === 'true',
},
};
```
#### Type Declarations (`src/vite-env.d.ts`)
```typescript
interface ImportMetaEnv {
readonly VITE_FEATURE_NEW_DASHBOARD?: string;
readonly VITE_FEATURE_BETA_RECIPES?: string;
readonly VITE_FEATURE_EXPERIMENTAL_AI?: string;
readonly VITE_FEATURE_DEBUG_MODE?: string;
}
```
#### React Hook (`src/hooks/useFeatureFlag.ts`)
```typescript
import { useMemo } from 'react';
import config from '../config';
export type FeatureFlagName = keyof typeof config.featureFlags;
export function useFeatureFlag(flagName: FeatureFlagName): boolean {
return useMemo(() => config.featureFlags[flagName], [flagName]);
}
export function useAllFeatureFlags(): Record<FeatureFlagName, boolean> {
return useMemo(() => ({ ...config.featureFlags }), []);
}
```
#### Declarative Component (`src/components/FeatureFlag.tsx`)
```typescript
import { ReactNode } from 'react';
import { useFeatureFlag, FeatureFlagName } from '../hooks/useFeatureFlag';
interface FeatureFlagProps {
name: FeatureFlagName;
children: ReactNode;
fallback?: ReactNode;
}
export function FeatureFlag({ name, children, fallback = null }: FeatureFlagProps) {
const isEnabled = useFeatureFlag(name);
return <>{isEnabled ? children : fallback}</>;
}
```
#### Usage in Components
```tsx
// Declarative approach
<FeatureFlag name="newDashboard" fallback={<LegacyDashboard />}>
<NewDashboard />
</FeatureFlag>;
// Hook approach (for logic beyond rendering)
const isNewDashboard = useFeatureFlag('newDashboard');
useEffect(() => {
if (isNewDashboard) analytics.track('new_dashboard_viewed');
}, [isNewDashboard]);
```
### Testing Patterns
#### Backend Test Setup
```typescript
// Reset modules to test different flag states
beforeEach(() => {
vi.resetModules();
process.env.FEATURE_NEW_DASHBOARD = 'true';
});
// src/services/featureFlags.server.test.ts
describe('isFeatureEnabled', () => {
it('returns false for disabled flags', () => {
expect(isFeatureEnabled('newDashboard')).toBe(false);
});
});
```
#### Frontend Test Setup
```typescript
// Mock config module
vi.mock('../config', () => ({
default: {
featureFlags: {
newDashboard: true,
betaRecipes: false,
},
},
}));
// Component test
describe('FeatureFlag', () => {
it('renders fallback when disabled', () => {
render(
<FeatureFlag name="betaRecipes" fallback={<div>Old</div>}>
<div>New</div>
</FeatureFlag>
);
expect(screen.getByText('Old')).toBeInTheDocument();
});
});
```
### Flag Lifecycle
| Phase | Actions |
| ---------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Add** | 1. Add to both schemas (backend + frontend) 2. Default `false` 3. Document in `.env.example` |
| **Enable** | Set env var `='true'` → restart application |
| **Remove** | 1. Remove conditional code 2. Remove from schemas 3. Remove env vars |
| **Sunset** | Max 3 months after full rollout → remove flag |
### Admin Endpoint (Optional)
```typescript
// GET /api/v1/admin/feature-flags (admin-only)
router.get('/feature-flags', requireAdmin, async (req, res) => {
sendSuccess(res, { flags: getAllFeatureFlags() });
});
```
### Integration with ADR-007
Feature flags extend existing Zod configuration pattern:
- **Validation**: Same `booleanString()` transform used by other config
- **Loading**: Same `loadEnvVars()` function loads `FEATURE_*` vars
- **Type Safety**: `FeatureFlagName` type derived from config schema
- **Fail-Fast**: Invalid flag values fail at startup (Zod validation)
### Future Migration Path
Current implementation abstracts flag access via `isFeatureEnabled()` function and `useFeatureFlag()` hook. External service migration requires:
1. Replace implementation internals of these functions
2. Add API client for Flagsmith/LaunchDarkly
3. No changes to consuming code (routes/components)
### Explicitly Out of Scope
- External service integration (Flagsmith/LaunchDarkly)
- Database-stored flags
- Real-time flag updates (WebSocket/SSE)
- User-specific flags (A/B testing percentages)
- Flag inheritance/hierarchy
- Flag audit logging
### Key Files Reference
| Action | Files |
| --------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Add new flag | `src/config/env.ts`, `src/config.ts`, `src/vite-env.d.ts`, `.env.example` |
| Check flag (backend) | Import from `src/services/featureFlags.server.ts` |
| Check flag (frontend) | Import hook from `src/hooks/useFeatureFlag.ts` or component from `src/components/FeatureFlag.tsx` |
| Test flag behavior | Mock via `vi.resetModules()` (backend) or `vi.mock('../config')` (frontend) |

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@@ -15,9 +15,9 @@ This document tracks the implementation status and estimated effort for all Arch
| Status | Count |
| ---------------------------- | ----- |
| Accepted (Fully Implemented) | 41 |
| Accepted (Fully Implemented) | 42 |
| Partially Implemented | 2 |
| Proposed (Not Started) | 13 |
| Proposed (Not Started) | 12 |
| Superseded | 1 |
---
@@ -78,16 +78,16 @@ This document tracks the implementation status and estimated effort for all Arch
### Category 6: Deployment & Operations
| ADR | Title | Status | Effort | Notes |
| -------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------ | -------- | ------ | -------------------------- |
| [ADR-006](./0006-background-job-processing-and-task-queues.md) | Background Jobs | Accepted | - | Fully implemented |
| [ADR-014](./0014-containerization-and-deployment-strategy.md) | Containerization | Partial | M | Docker done, K8s pending |
| [ADR-017](./0017-ci-cd-and-branching-strategy.md) | CI/CD & Branching | Accepted | - | Fully implemented |
| [ADR-024](./0024-feature-flagging-strategy.md) | Feature Flags | Proposed | M | New service/library needed |
| [ADR-037](./0037-scheduled-jobs-and-cron-pattern.md) | Scheduled Jobs | Accepted | - | Fully implemented |
| [ADR-038](./0038-graceful-shutdown-pattern.md) | Graceful Shutdown | Accepted | - | Fully implemented |
| [ADR-053](./0053-worker-health-checks.md) | Worker Health | Accepted | - | Fully implemented |
| [ADR-054](./0054-bugsink-gitea-issue-sync.md) | Bugsink-Gitea Sync | Proposed | L | Automated issue creation |
| ADR | Title | Status | Effort | Notes |
| -------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------ | -------- | ------ | ------------------------ |
| [ADR-006](./0006-background-job-processing-and-task-queues.md) | Background Jobs | Accepted | - | Fully implemented |
| [ADR-014](./0014-containerization-and-deployment-strategy.md) | Containerization | Partial | M | Docker done, K8s pending |
| [ADR-017](./0017-ci-cd-and-branching-strategy.md) | CI/CD & Branching | Accepted | - | Fully implemented |
| [ADR-024](./0024-feature-flagging-strategy.md) | Feature Flags | Accepted | - | Fully implemented |
| [ADR-037](./0037-scheduled-jobs-and-cron-pattern.md) | Scheduled Jobs | Accepted | - | Fully implemented |
| [ADR-038](./0038-graceful-shutdown-pattern.md) | Graceful Shutdown | Accepted | - | Fully implemented |
| [ADR-053](./0053-worker-health-checks.md) | Worker Health | Accepted | - | Fully implemented |
| [ADR-054](./0054-bugsink-gitea-issue-sync.md) | Bugsink-Gitea Sync | Proposed | L | Automated issue creation |
### Category 7: Frontend / User Interface
@@ -134,15 +134,14 @@ These ADRs are proposed or partially implemented, ordered by suggested implement
| Priority | ADR | Title | Status | Effort | Rationale |
| -------- | ------- | ------------------------ | -------- | ------ | ------------------------------------ |
| 1 | ADR-024 | Feature Flags | Proposed | M | Safer deployments, A/B testing |
| 2 | ADR-054 | Bugsink-Gitea Sync | Proposed | L | Automated issue tracking from errors |
| 3 | ADR-023 | Schema Migrations v2 | Proposed | L | Database evolution support |
| 4 | ADR-029 | Secret Rotation | Proposed | L | Security improvement |
| 5 | ADR-030 | Circuit Breaker | Proposed | L | Resilience improvement |
| 6 | ADR-056 | APM (Performance) | Proposed | M | Enable when performance issues arise |
| 7 | ADR-011 | Authorization & RBAC | Proposed | XL | Advanced permission system |
| 8 | ADR-025 | i18n & l10n | Proposed | XL | Multi-language support |
| 9 | ADR-031 | Data Retention & Privacy | Proposed | XL | Compliance requirements |
| 1 | ADR-054 | Bugsink-Gitea Sync | Proposed | L | Automated issue tracking from errors |
| 2 | ADR-023 | Schema Migrations v2 | Proposed | L | Database evolution support |
| 3 | ADR-029 | Secret Rotation | Proposed | L | Security improvement |
| 4 | ADR-030 | Circuit Breaker | Proposed | L | Resilience improvement |
| 5 | ADR-056 | APM (Performance) | Proposed | M | Enable when performance issues arise |
| 6 | ADR-011 | Authorization & RBAC | Proposed | XL | Advanced permission system |
| 7 | ADR-025 | i18n & l10n | Proposed | XL | Multi-language support |
| 8 | ADR-031 | Data Retention & Privacy | Proposed | XL | Compliance requirements |
---
@@ -150,6 +149,7 @@ These ADRs are proposed or partially implemented, ordered by suggested implement
| Date | ADR | Change |
| ---------- | ------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| 2026-01-28 | ADR-024 | Fully implemented - Backend/frontend feature flags, 89 tests, admin endpoint |
| 2026-01-28 | ADR-057 | Created - Test remediation documentation for ADR-008 Phase 2 migration |
| 2026-01-28 | ADR-013 | Marked as Superseded by ADR-023 |
| 2026-01-27 | ADR-008 | Test path migration complete - 23 files, ~70 paths updated, 274->345 tests passing |

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@@ -4,16 +4,17 @@ Common code patterns extracted from Architecture Decision Records (ADRs). Use th
## Quick Reference
| Pattern | Key Function/Class | Import From |
| ------------------ | ------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------- |
| Error Handling | `handleDbError()`, `NotFoundError` | `src/services/db/errors.db.ts` |
| Repository Methods | `get*`, `find*`, `list*` | `src/services/db/*.db.ts` |
| API Responses | `sendSuccess()`, `sendPaginated()`, `sendError()` | `src/utils/apiResponse.ts` |
| Transactions | `withTransaction()` | `src/services/db/connection.db.ts` |
| Validation | `validateRequest()` | `src/middleware/validation.ts` |
| Authentication | `authenticateJWT` | `src/middleware/auth.ts` |
| Caching | `cacheService` | `src/services/cache.server.ts` |
| Background Jobs | Queue classes | `src/services/queues.server.ts` |
| Pattern | Key Function/Class | Import From |
| ------------------ | ------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------- |
| Error Handling | `handleDbError()`, `NotFoundError` | `src/services/db/errors.db.ts` |
| Repository Methods | `get*`, `find*`, `list*` | `src/services/db/*.db.ts` |
| API Responses | `sendSuccess()`, `sendPaginated()`, `sendError()` | `src/utils/apiResponse.ts` |
| Transactions | `withTransaction()` | `src/services/db/connection.db.ts` |
| Validation | `validateRequest()` | `src/middleware/validation.ts` |
| Authentication | `authenticateJWT` | `src/middleware/auth.ts` |
| Caching | `cacheService` | `src/services/cache.server.ts` |
| Background Jobs | Queue classes | `src/services/queues.server.ts` |
| Feature Flags | `isFeatureEnabled()`, `useFeatureFlag()` | `src/services/featureFlags.server.ts` |
---
@@ -27,6 +28,7 @@ Common code patterns extracted from Architecture Decision Records (ADRs). Use th
- [Authentication](#authentication)
- [Caching](#caching)
- [Background Jobs](#background-jobs)
- [Feature Flags](#feature-flags)
---
@@ -491,6 +493,153 @@ const flyerWorker = new Worker(
---
## Feature Flags
**ADR**: [ADR-024](../adr/0024-feature-flagging-strategy.md)
Feature flags enable controlled feature rollout, A/B testing, and quick production disablement without redeployment. All flags default to `false` (opt-in model).
### Backend Usage
```typescript
import { isFeatureEnabled, getFeatureFlags } from '../services/featureFlags.server';
// Check a specific flag in route handler
router.get('/dashboard', async (req, res) => {
if (isFeatureEnabled('newDashboard')) {
return sendSuccess(res, { version: 'v2', data: await getNewDashboardData() });
}
return sendSuccess(res, { version: 'v1', data: await getLegacyDashboardData() });
});
// Check flag in service layer
function processFlyer(flyer: Flyer): ProcessedFlyer {
if (isFeatureEnabled('experimentalAi')) {
return processWithExperimentalAi(flyer);
}
return processWithStandardAi(flyer);
}
// Get all flags (admin endpoint)
router.get('/admin/feature-flags', requireAdmin, async (req, res) => {
sendSuccess(res, { flags: getFeatureFlags() });
});
```
### Frontend Usage
```tsx
import { useFeatureFlag, useAllFeatureFlags } from '../hooks/useFeatureFlag';
import { FeatureFlag } from '../components/FeatureFlag';
// Hook approach - for logic beyond rendering
function Dashboard() {
const isNewDashboard = useFeatureFlag('newDashboard');
useEffect(() => {
if (isNewDashboard) {
analytics.track('new_dashboard_viewed');
}
}, [isNewDashboard]);
return isNewDashboard ? <NewDashboard /> : <LegacyDashboard />;
}
// Declarative component approach
function App() {
return (
<FeatureFlag feature="newDashboard" fallback={<LegacyDashboard />}>
<NewDashboard />
</FeatureFlag>
);
}
// Debug panel showing all flags
function DebugPanel() {
const flags = useAllFeatureFlags();
return (
<ul>
{Object.entries(flags).map(([name, enabled]) => (
<li key={name}>
{name}: {enabled ? 'ON' : 'OFF'}
</li>
))}
</ul>
);
}
```
### Adding a New Flag
1. **Backend** (`src/config/env.ts`):
```typescript
// In featureFlagsSchema
myNewFeature: booleanString(false), // FEATURE_MY_NEW_FEATURE
// In loadEnvVars()
myNewFeature: process.env.FEATURE_MY_NEW_FEATURE,
```
2. **Frontend** (`src/config.ts` and `src/vite-env.d.ts`):
```typescript
// In config.ts featureFlags section
myNewFeature: import.meta.env.VITE_FEATURE_MY_NEW_FEATURE === 'true',
// In vite-env.d.ts
readonly VITE_FEATURE_MY_NEW_FEATURE?: string;
```
3. **Environment** (`.env.example`):
```bash
# FEATURE_MY_NEW_FEATURE=false
# VITE_FEATURE_MY_NEW_FEATURE=false
```
### Testing Feature Flags
```typescript
// Backend - reset modules to test different states
beforeEach(() => {
vi.resetModules();
process.env.FEATURE_NEW_DASHBOARD = 'true';
});
// Frontend - mock config module
vi.mock('../config', () => ({
default: {
featureFlags: {
newDashboard: true,
betaRecipes: false,
},
},
}));
```
### Flag Lifecycle
| Phase | Actions |
| ---------- | -------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Add** | Add to schemas (backend + frontend), default `false`, document |
| **Enable** | Set env var `='true'`, restart application |
| **Remove** | Remove conditional code, remove from schemas, remove env vars |
| **Sunset** | Max 3 months after full rollout - remove flag |
### Current Flags
| Flag | Backend Env Var | Frontend Env Var | Purpose |
| ---------------- | ------------------------- | ------------------------------ | ------------------------ |
| `bugsinkSync` | `FEATURE_BUGSINK_SYNC` | `VITE_FEATURE_BUGSINK_SYNC` | Bugsink error sync |
| `advancedRbac` | `FEATURE_ADVANCED_RBAC` | `VITE_FEATURE_ADVANCED_RBAC` | Advanced RBAC features |
| `newDashboard` | `FEATURE_NEW_DASHBOARD` | `VITE_FEATURE_NEW_DASHBOARD` | New dashboard experience |
| `betaRecipes` | `FEATURE_BETA_RECIPES` | `VITE_FEATURE_BETA_RECIPES` | Beta recipe features |
| `experimentalAi` | `FEATURE_EXPERIMENTAL_AI` | `VITE_FEATURE_EXPERIMENTAL_AI` | Experimental AI features |
| `debugMode` | `FEATURE_DEBUG_MODE` | `VITE_FEATURE_DEBUG_MODE` | Debug mode |
---
## Related Documentation
- [ADR Index](../adr/index.md) - All architecture decision records

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@@ -0,0 +1,849 @@
# ADR-024 Implementation Plan: Feature Flagging Strategy
**Date**: 2026-01-28
**Type**: Technical Implementation Plan
**Related**: [ADR-024: Feature Flagging Strategy](../adr/0024-feature-flagging-strategy.md), [ADR-007: Configuration and Secrets Management](../adr/0007-configuration-and-secrets-management.md)
**Status**: Ready for Implementation
---
## Project Overview
Implement a simple, configuration-based feature flag system that integrates with the existing Zod-validated configuration in `src/config/env.ts`. The system will support both backend and frontend feature flags through environment variables, with type-safe access patterns and helper utilities.
### Key Success Criteria
1. Feature flags accessible via type-safe API on both backend and frontend
2. Zero runtime overhead when flag is disabled (compile-time elimination where possible)
3. Consistent naming convention (environment variables and code access)
4. Graceful degradation (missing flag defaults to disabled)
5. Easy migration path to external service (Flagsmith/LaunchDarkly) in the future
6. Full test coverage with mocking utilities
### Estimated Total Effort
| Phase | Estimate |
| --------------------------------- | -------------- |
| Phase 1: Backend Infrastructure | 3-5 hours |
| Phase 2: Frontend Infrastructure | 2-3 hours |
| Phase 3: Documentation & Examples | 1-2 hours |
| **Total** | **6-10 hours** |
---
## Current State Analysis
### Backend Configuration (`src/config/env.ts`)
- Zod-based schema validation at startup
- Organized into logical groups (database, redis, auth, smtp, ai, etc.)
- Helper exports for service availability (`isSmtpConfigured`, `isAiConfigured`, etc.)
- Environment helpers (`isProduction`, `isTest`, `isDevelopment`)
- Fail-fast on invalid configuration
### Frontend Configuration (`src/config.ts`)
- Uses `import.meta.env` (Vite environment variables)
- Organized into sections (app, google, sentry)
- Boolean parsing for string env vars
- Type declarations in `src/vite-env.d.ts`
### Existing Patterns to Follow
```typescript
// Backend - service availability check pattern
export const isSmtpConfigured =
!!config.smtp.host && !!config.smtp.user && !!config.smtp.pass;
// Frontend - boolean parsing pattern
enabled: import.meta.env.VITE_SENTRY_ENABLED !== 'false',
```
---
## Task Breakdown
### Phase 1: Backend Feature Flag Infrastructure
#### [1.1] Define Feature Flag Schema in env.ts
**Complexity**: Low
**Estimate**: 30-45 minutes
**Dependencies**: None
**Parallelizable**: Yes
**Description**: Add a new `featureFlags` section to the Zod schema in `src/config/env.ts`.
**Acceptance Criteria**:
- [ ] New `featureFlagsSchema` Zod object defined
- [ ] Schema supports boolean flags with defaults to `false` (opt-in model)
- [ ] Schema added to main `envSchema` object
- [ ] Type exported as part of `EnvConfig`
**Implementation Details**:
```typescript
// src/config/env.ts
/**
* Feature flags configuration schema (ADR-024).
* All flags default to false (disabled) for safety.
* Set to 'true' in environment to enable.
*/
const featureFlagsSchema = z.object({
// Example flags - replace with actual feature flags as needed
newDashboard: booleanString(false), // FEATURE_NEW_DASHBOARD
betaRecipes: booleanString(false), // FEATURE_BETA_RECIPES
experimentalAi: booleanString(false), // FEATURE_EXPERIMENTAL_AI
debugMode: booleanString(false), // FEATURE_DEBUG_MODE
});
// In loadEnvVars():
featureFlags: {
newDashboard: process.env.FEATURE_NEW_DASHBOARD,
betaRecipes: process.env.FEATURE_BETA_RECIPES,
experimentalAi: process.env.FEATURE_EXPERIMENTAL_AI,
debugMode: process.env.FEATURE_DEBUG_MODE,
},
```
**Risks/Notes**:
- Naming convention: `FEATURE_*` prefix for all feature flag env vars
- Default to `false` ensures features are opt-in, preventing accidental exposure
---
#### [1.2] Create Feature Flag Service Module
**Complexity**: Medium
**Estimate**: 1-2 hours
**Dependencies**: [1.1]
**Parallelizable**: No (depends on 1.1)
**Description**: Create a dedicated service module for feature flag access with helper functions.
**File**: `src/services/featureFlags.server.ts`
**Acceptance Criteria**:
- [ ] `isFeatureEnabled(flagName)` function for checking flags
- [ ] `getAllFeatureFlags()` function for debugging/admin endpoints
- [ ] Type-safe flag name parameter (union type or enum)
- [ ] Exported helper booleans for common flags (similar to `isSmtpConfigured`)
- [ ] Logging when feature flag is checked in development mode
**Implementation Details**:
```typescript
// src/services/featureFlags.server.ts
import { config, isDevelopment } from '../config/env';
import { logger } from './logger.server';
export type FeatureFlagName = keyof typeof config.featureFlags;
/**
* Check if a feature flag is enabled.
* @param flagName - The name of the feature flag to check
* @returns boolean indicating if the feature is enabled
*/
export function isFeatureEnabled(flagName: FeatureFlagName): boolean {
const enabled = config.featureFlags[flagName];
if (isDevelopment) {
logger.debug({ flag: flagName, enabled }, 'Feature flag checked');
}
return enabled;
}
/**
* Get all feature flags and their current states.
* Useful for debugging and admin endpoints.
*/
export function getAllFeatureFlags(): Record<FeatureFlagName, boolean> {
return { ...config.featureFlags };
}
// Convenience exports for common flag checks
export const isNewDashboardEnabled = config.featureFlags.newDashboard;
export const isBetaRecipesEnabled = config.featureFlags.betaRecipes;
export const isExperimentalAiEnabled = config.featureFlags.experimentalAi;
export const isDebugModeEnabled = config.featureFlags.debugMode;
```
**Risks/Notes**:
- Keep logging minimal to avoid performance impact
- Convenience exports are evaluated once at startup (not dynamic)
---
#### [1.3] Add Admin Endpoint for Feature Flag Status
**Complexity**: Low
**Estimate**: 30-45 minutes
**Dependencies**: [1.2]
**Parallelizable**: No (depends on 1.2)
**Description**: Add an admin/health endpoint to view current feature flag states.
**File**: `src/routes/admin.routes.ts` (or `stats.routes.ts` if admin routes don't exist)
**Acceptance Criteria**:
- [ ] `GET /api/v1/admin/feature-flags` endpoint (admin-only)
- [ ] Returns JSON object with all flags and their states
- [ ] Requires admin authentication
- [ ] Endpoint documented in Swagger
**Implementation Details**:
```typescript
// In appropriate routes file
router.get('/feature-flags', requireAdmin, async (req, res) => {
const flags = getAllFeatureFlags();
sendSuccess(res, { flags });
});
```
**Risks/Notes**:
- Ensure endpoint is protected (admin-only)
- Consider caching response if called frequently
---
#### [1.4] Backend Unit Tests
**Complexity**: Medium
**Estimate**: 1-2 hours
**Dependencies**: [1.1], [1.2]
**Parallelizable**: Yes (can start after 1.1, in parallel with 1.3)
**Description**: Write unit tests for feature flag configuration and service.
**Files**:
- `src/config/env.test.ts` (add feature flag tests)
- `src/services/featureFlags.server.test.ts` (new file)
**Acceptance Criteria**:
- [ ] Test default values (all false)
- [ ] Test parsing 'true'/'false' strings
- [ ] Test `isFeatureEnabled()` function
- [ ] Test `getAllFeatureFlags()` function
- [ ] Test type safety (TypeScript compile-time checks)
**Implementation Details**:
```typescript
// src/config/env.test.ts - add to existing file
describe('featureFlags configuration', () => {
it('should default all feature flags to false', async () => {
setValidEnv();
const { config } = await import('./env');
expect(config.featureFlags.newDashboard).toBe(false);
expect(config.featureFlags.betaRecipes).toBe(false);
});
it('should parse FEATURE_NEW_DASHBOARD as true when set', async () => {
setValidEnv({ FEATURE_NEW_DASHBOARD: 'true' });
const { config } = await import('./env');
expect(config.featureFlags.newDashboard).toBe(true);
});
});
// src/services/featureFlags.server.test.ts - new file
describe('featureFlags service', () => {
describe('isFeatureEnabled', () => {
it('should return false for disabled flags', () => {
expect(isFeatureEnabled('newDashboard')).toBe(false);
});
// ... more tests
});
});
```
---
### Phase 2: Frontend Feature Flag Infrastructure
#### [2.1] Add Frontend Feature Flag Config
**Complexity**: Low
**Estimate**: 30-45 minutes
**Dependencies**: None (can run in parallel with Phase 1)
**Parallelizable**: Yes
**Description**: Add feature flags to the frontend config module.
**Files**:
- `src/config.ts` - Add featureFlags section
- `src/vite-env.d.ts` - Add type declarations
**Acceptance Criteria**:
- [ ] Feature flags section added to `src/config.ts`
- [ ] TypeScript declarations updated in `vite-env.d.ts`
- [ ] Boolean parsing consistent with existing pattern
- [ ] Default to false when env var not set
**Implementation Details**:
```typescript
// src/config.ts
const config = {
// ... existing sections ...
/**
* Feature flags for conditional feature rendering (ADR-024).
* All flags default to false (disabled) when not explicitly set.
*/
featureFlags: {
newDashboard: import.meta.env.VITE_FEATURE_NEW_DASHBOARD === 'true',
betaRecipes: import.meta.env.VITE_FEATURE_BETA_RECIPES === 'true',
experimentalAi: import.meta.env.VITE_FEATURE_EXPERIMENTAL_AI === 'true',
debugMode: import.meta.env.VITE_FEATURE_DEBUG_MODE === 'true',
},
};
// src/vite-env.d.ts
interface ImportMetaEnv {
// ... existing declarations ...
readonly VITE_FEATURE_NEW_DASHBOARD?: string;
readonly VITE_FEATURE_BETA_RECIPES?: string;
readonly VITE_FEATURE_EXPERIMENTAL_AI?: string;
readonly VITE_FEATURE_DEBUG_MODE?: string;
}
```
---
#### [2.2] Create useFeatureFlag React Hook
**Complexity**: Medium
**Estimate**: 1-1.5 hours
**Dependencies**: [2.1]
**Parallelizable**: No (depends on 2.1)
**Description**: Create a React hook for checking feature flags in components.
**File**: `src/hooks/useFeatureFlag.ts`
**Acceptance Criteria**:
- [ ] `useFeatureFlag(flagName)` hook returns boolean
- [ ] Type-safe flag name parameter
- [ ] Memoized to prevent unnecessary re-renders
- [ ] Optional `FeatureFlag` component for conditional rendering
**Implementation Details**:
```typescript
// src/hooks/useFeatureFlag.ts
import { useMemo } from 'react';
import config from '../config';
export type FeatureFlagName = keyof typeof config.featureFlags;
/**
* Hook to check if a feature flag is enabled.
*
* @param flagName - The name of the feature flag to check
* @returns boolean indicating if the feature is enabled
*
* @example
* const isNewDashboard = useFeatureFlag('newDashboard');
* if (isNewDashboard) {
* return <NewDashboard />;
* }
*/
export function useFeatureFlag(flagName: FeatureFlagName): boolean {
return useMemo(() => config.featureFlags[flagName], [flagName]);
}
/**
* Get all feature flags (useful for debugging).
*/
export function useAllFeatureFlags(): Record<FeatureFlagName, boolean> {
return useMemo(() => ({ ...config.featureFlags }), []);
}
```
---
#### [2.3] Create FeatureFlag Component
**Complexity**: Low
**Estimate**: 30-45 minutes
**Dependencies**: [2.2]
**Parallelizable**: No (depends on 2.2)
**Description**: Create a declarative component for feature flag conditional rendering.
**File**: `src/components/FeatureFlag.tsx`
**Acceptance Criteria**:
- [ ] `<FeatureFlag name="flagName">` component
- [ ] Children rendered only when flag is enabled
- [ ] Optional `fallback` prop for disabled state
- [ ] TypeScript-enforced flag names
**Implementation Details**:
```typescript
// src/components/FeatureFlag.tsx
import { ReactNode } from 'react';
import { useFeatureFlag, FeatureFlagName } from '../hooks/useFeatureFlag';
interface FeatureFlagProps {
/** The name of the feature flag to check */
name: FeatureFlagName;
/** Content to render when feature is enabled */
children: ReactNode;
/** Optional content to render when feature is disabled */
fallback?: ReactNode;
}
/**
* Conditionally renders children based on feature flag state.
*
* @example
* <FeatureFlag name="newDashboard" fallback={<OldDashboard />}>
* <NewDashboard />
* </FeatureFlag>
*/
export function FeatureFlag({ name, children, fallback = null }: FeatureFlagProps) {
const isEnabled = useFeatureFlag(name);
return <>{isEnabled ? children : fallback}</>;
}
```
---
#### [2.4] Frontend Unit Tests
**Complexity**: Medium
**Estimate**: 1-1.5 hours
**Dependencies**: [2.1], [2.2], [2.3]
**Parallelizable**: No (depends on previous frontend tasks)
**Description**: Write unit tests for frontend feature flag utilities.
**Files**:
- `src/config.test.ts` (add feature flag tests)
- `src/hooks/useFeatureFlag.test.ts` (new file)
- `src/components/FeatureFlag.test.tsx` (new file)
**Acceptance Criteria**:
- [ ] Test config structure includes featureFlags
- [ ] Test default values (all false)
- [ ] Test hook returns correct values
- [ ] Test component renders/hides children correctly
- [ ] Test fallback rendering
**Implementation Details**:
```typescript
// src/hooks/useFeatureFlag.test.ts
import { renderHook } from '@testing-library/react';
import { useFeatureFlag, useAllFeatureFlags } from './useFeatureFlag';
describe('useFeatureFlag', () => {
it('should return false for disabled flags', () => {
const { result } = renderHook(() => useFeatureFlag('newDashboard'));
expect(result.current).toBe(false);
});
});
// src/components/FeatureFlag.test.tsx
import { render, screen } from '@testing-library/react';
import { FeatureFlag } from './FeatureFlag';
describe('FeatureFlag', () => {
it('should not render children when flag is disabled', () => {
render(
<FeatureFlag name="newDashboard">
<div data-testid="new-feature">New Feature</div>
</FeatureFlag>
);
expect(screen.queryByTestId('new-feature')).not.toBeInTheDocument();
});
it('should render fallback when flag is disabled', () => {
render(
<FeatureFlag name="newDashboard" fallback={<div>Old Feature</div>}>
<div>New Feature</div>
</FeatureFlag>
);
expect(screen.getByText('Old Feature')).toBeInTheDocument();
});
});
```
---
### Phase 3: Documentation & Integration
#### [3.1] Update ADR-024 with Implementation Status
**Complexity**: Low
**Estimate**: 30 minutes
**Dependencies**: [1.1], [1.2], [2.1], [2.2]
**Parallelizable**: Yes (can be done after core implementation)
**Description**: Update ADR-024 to mark it as implemented and add implementation details.
**File**: `docs/adr/0024-feature-flagging-strategy.md`
**Acceptance Criteria**:
- [ ] Status changed from "Proposed" to "Accepted"
- [ ] Implementation status section added
- [ ] Key files documented
- [ ] Usage examples included
---
#### [3.2] Update Environment Documentation
**Complexity**: Low
**Estimate**: 30 minutes
**Dependencies**: [1.1], [2.1]
**Parallelizable**: Yes
**Description**: Add feature flag environment variables to documentation.
**Files**:
- `docs/getting-started/ENVIRONMENT.md`
- `.env.example`
**Acceptance Criteria**:
- [ ] Feature flag variables documented in ENVIRONMENT.md
- [ ] New section "Feature Flags" added
- [ ] `.env.example` updated with commented feature flag examples
**Implementation Details**:
```bash
# .env.example addition
# ===================
# Feature Flags (ADR-024)
# ===================
# All feature flags default to disabled (false) when not set.
# Set to 'true' to enable a feature.
#
# FEATURE_NEW_DASHBOARD=false
# FEATURE_BETA_RECIPES=false
# FEATURE_EXPERIMENTAL_AI=false
# FEATURE_DEBUG_MODE=false
#
# Frontend equivalents (prefix with VITE_):
# VITE_FEATURE_NEW_DASHBOARD=false
# VITE_FEATURE_BETA_RECIPES=false
```
---
#### [3.3] Create CODE-PATTERNS Entry
**Complexity**: Low
**Estimate**: 30 minutes
**Dependencies**: All implementation tasks
**Parallelizable**: Yes
**Description**: Add feature flag usage patterns to CODE-PATTERNS.md.
**File**: `docs/development/CODE-PATTERNS.md`
**Acceptance Criteria**:
- [ ] Feature flag section added with examples
- [ ] Backend usage pattern documented
- [ ] Frontend usage pattern documented
- [ ] Testing pattern documented
---
#### [3.4] Update CLAUDE.md Quick Reference
**Complexity**: Low
**Estimate**: 15 minutes
**Dependencies**: All implementation tasks
**Parallelizable**: Yes
**Description**: Add feature flags to the CLAUDE.md quick reference tables.
**File**: `CLAUDE.md`
**Acceptance Criteria**:
- [ ] Feature flags added to "Key Patterns" table
- [ ] Reference to featureFlags service added
---
## Implementation Sequence
### Phase 1 (Backend) - Can Start Immediately
```text
[1.1] Schema ──────────┬──> [1.2] Service ──> [1.3] Admin Endpoint
└──> [1.4] Backend Tests (can start after 1.1)
```
### Phase 2 (Frontend) - Can Start Immediately (Parallel with Phase 1)
```text
[2.1] Config ──> [2.2] Hook ──> [2.3] Component ──> [2.4] Frontend Tests
```
### Phase 3 (Documentation) - After Implementation
```text
All Phase 1 & 2 Tasks ──> [3.1] ADR Update
├──> [3.2] Env Docs
├──> [3.3] Code Patterns
└──> [3.4] CLAUDE.md
```
---
## Critical Path
The minimum path to a working feature flag system:
1. **[1.1] Schema** (30 min) - Required for backend
2. **[1.2] Service** (1.5 hr) - Required for backend access
3. **[2.1] Frontend Config** (30 min) - Required for frontend
4. **[2.2] Hook** (1 hr) - Required for React integration
**Critical path duration**: ~3.5 hours
Non-critical but recommended:
- Admin endpoint (debugging)
- FeatureFlag component (developer convenience)
- Tests (quality assurance)
- Documentation (maintainability)
---
## Scope Recommendations
### MVP (Minimum Viable Implementation)
Include in initial implementation:
- [1.1] Backend schema with 2-3 example flags
- [1.2] Feature flag service
- [2.1] Frontend config
- [2.2] useFeatureFlag hook
- [1.4] Core backend tests
- [2.4] Core frontend tests
### Enhancements (Future Iterations)
Defer to follow-up work:
- Admin endpoint for flag visibility
- FeatureFlag component (nice-to-have)
- Dynamic flag updates without restart (requires external service)
- User-specific flags (A/B testing)
- Flag analytics/usage tracking
- Gradual rollout percentages
### Explicitly Out of Scope
- Integration with Flagsmith/LaunchDarkly (future ADR)
- Database-stored flags (requires schema changes)
- Real-time flag updates (WebSocket/SSE)
- Flag inheritance/hierarchy
- Flag audit logging
---
## Testing Strategy
### Backend Tests
| Test Type | Coverage Target | Location |
| ----------------- | ---------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------ |
| Schema validation | Parse true/false, defaults | `src/config/env.test.ts` |
| Service functions | `isFeatureEnabled`, `getAllFeatureFlags` | `src/services/featureFlags.server.test.ts` |
| Integration | Admin endpoint (if added) | `src/routes/admin.routes.test.ts` |
### Frontend Tests
| Test Type | Coverage Target | Location |
| ------------------- | --------------------------- | ------------------------------------- |
| Config structure | featureFlags section exists | `src/config.test.ts` |
| Hook behavior | Returns correct values | `src/hooks/useFeatureFlag.test.ts` |
| Component rendering | Conditional children | `src/components/FeatureFlag.test.tsx` |
### Mocking Pattern for Tests
```typescript
// Backend - reset modules to test different flag states
beforeEach(() => {
vi.resetModules();
process.env.FEATURE_NEW_DASHBOARD = 'true';
});
// Frontend - mock config module
vi.mock('../config', () => ({
default: {
featureFlags: {
newDashboard: true,
betaRecipes: false,
},
},
}));
```
---
## Risk Assessment
| Risk | Impact | Likelihood | Mitigation |
| ------------------------------------------- | ------ | ---------- | ------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Flag state inconsistency (backend/frontend) | Medium | Low | Use same env var naming, document sync requirements |
| Performance impact from flag checks | Low | Low | Flags cached at startup, no runtime DB calls |
| Stale flags after deployment | Medium | Medium | Document restart requirement, consider future dynamic loading |
| Feature creep (too many flags) | Medium | Medium | Require ADR for new flags, sunset policy |
| Missing flag causes crash | High | Low | Default to false, graceful degradation |
---
## Files to Create
| File | Purpose |
| ------------------------------------------ | ---------------------------- |
| `src/services/featureFlags.server.ts` | Backend feature flag service |
| `src/services/featureFlags.server.test.ts` | Backend tests |
| `src/hooks/useFeatureFlag.ts` | React hook for flag access |
| `src/hooks/useFeatureFlag.test.ts` | Hook tests |
| `src/components/FeatureFlag.tsx` | Declarative flag component |
| `src/components/FeatureFlag.test.tsx` | Component tests |
## Files to Modify
| File | Changes |
| -------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------- |
| `src/config/env.ts` | Add featureFlagsSchema and loading |
| `src/config/env.test.ts` | Add feature flag tests |
| `src/config.ts` | Add featureFlags section |
| `src/config.test.ts` | Add feature flag tests |
| `src/vite-env.d.ts` | Add VITE*FEATURE*\* declarations |
| `.env.example` | Add feature flag examples |
| `docs/adr/0024-feature-flagging-strategy.md` | Update status and details |
| `docs/getting-started/ENVIRONMENT.md` | Document feature flag vars |
| `docs/development/CODE-PATTERNS.md` | Add usage patterns |
| `CLAUDE.md` | Add to quick reference |
---
## Verification Commands
After implementation, run these commands in the dev container:
```bash
# Type checking
podman exec -it flyer-crawler-dev npm run type-check
# Backend unit tests
podman exec -it flyer-crawler-dev npm run test:unit -- --grep "featureFlag"
# Frontend tests (includes hook and component tests)
podman exec -it flyer-crawler-dev npm run test:unit -- --grep "FeatureFlag"
# Full test suite
podman exec -it flyer-crawler-dev npm test
```
---
## Example Usage (Post-Implementation)
### Backend Route Handler
```typescript
// src/routes/flyers.routes.ts
import { isFeatureEnabled } from '../services/featureFlags.server';
router.get('/dashboard', async (req, res) => {
if (isFeatureEnabled('newDashboard')) {
// New dashboard logic
return sendSuccess(res, { version: 'v2', data: await getNewDashboardData() });
}
// Legacy dashboard
return sendSuccess(res, { version: 'v1', data: await getLegacyDashboardData() });
});
```
### React Component
```tsx
// src/pages/Dashboard.tsx
import { FeatureFlag } from '../components/FeatureFlag';
import { useFeatureFlag } from '../hooks/useFeatureFlag';
// Option 1: Declarative component
function Dashboard() {
return (
<FeatureFlag name="newDashboard" fallback={<LegacyDashboard />}>
<NewDashboard />
</FeatureFlag>
);
}
// Option 2: Hook for logic
function DashboardWithLogic() {
const isNewDashboard = useFeatureFlag('newDashboard');
useEffect(() => {
if (isNewDashboard) {
analytics.track('new_dashboard_viewed');
}
}, [isNewDashboard]);
return isNewDashboard ? <NewDashboard /> : <LegacyDashboard />;
}
```
---
## Implementation Notes
### Naming Convention
| Context | Pattern | Example |
| ---------------- | ------------------------- | ---------------------------------- |
| Backend env var | `FEATURE_SNAKE_CASE` | `FEATURE_NEW_DASHBOARD` |
| Frontend env var | `VITE_FEATURE_SNAKE_CASE` | `VITE_FEATURE_NEW_DASHBOARD` |
| Config property | `camelCase` | `config.featureFlags.newDashboard` |
| Type/Hook param | `camelCase` | `isFeatureEnabled('newDashboard')` |
### Flag Lifecycle
1. **Adding a flag**: Add to both schemas, set default to `false`, document
2. **Enabling a flag**: Set env var to `'true'`, restart application
3. **Removing a flag**: Remove conditional code first, then remove flag from schemas
4. **Sunset policy**: Flags should be removed within 3 months of full rollout
---
Last updated: 2026-01-28