How do feature flags change the deployment model?

Without flags, deploying a change and exposing it are the same event. With flags, the artifact can reach production while the behaviour stays off, which lets teams deploy continuously and release on a product schedule.

• Release flags hide unfinished features and are removed after rollout
• Ops flags act as kill switches for risky dependencies or behaviour
• Experiment flags split traffic to measure an outcome and need an owner and end date
• Permission flags target cohorts such as internal users or a region
• Every flag needs a default, an owner and a removal plan

function renderCheckout(user) {
  if (flags.isEnabled('checkout-v2', user)) {
    return renderCheckoutV2(user);
  }
  return renderCheckoutV1(user);
}