How do I roll out new features incrementally using Pennant

Setting Up Feature Flags with Pennant

1. Define Feature Flags
Start by defining your feature flags in a centralized configuration or service provider. This makes managing and understanding your flags easier. For example, you can define flags with metadata such as tags to organize them:

php
   return [
       'features' => [
           'new-dashboard' => [
               'enabled' => false,
               'tags' => ['beta', 'ui'],
           ],
           'experimental-search' => [
               'enabled' => true,
               'tags' => ['search', 'experimental'],
           ],
       ],
   ];
   

2. Check Feature Flags in Code
Use Pennant’s facade or the `Feature` class to check if a feature is enabled before rendering or executing new feature code:

php
   use Laravel\Pennant\Pennant;

   if (Pennant::isEnabled('new-dashboard')) {
       return view('new-dashboard');
   } else {
       return view('old-dashboard');
   }
   

Incremental Rollout Strategies

1. User Segmentation
Roll out features to specific user groups or roles first. For example, enable a feature only for admin users:

php
   if (Pennant::isEnabled('new-dashboard') && auth()->user()->isAdmin()) {
       return view('admin.new-dashboard');
   }
   

2. Percentage Rollouts (Gradual Rollouts)
Enable the feature for a random subset of users to test and gather feedback before full release. This can be done by randomly enabling the feature based on a percentage:

php
   $randomNumber = rand(1, 100);
   if ($randomNumber  auth()->id()])) {
       // Show feature based on user-specific conditions
   }
   

Managing and Monitoring Feature Flags

- Eager Loading Feature Flags
To improve performance when checking feature flags for multiple users or contexts, use Pennant’s eager loading methods to reduce database queries:

php
  Feature::for($users)->load(['new-dashboard']);
  foreach ($users as $user) {
      if (Feature::for($user)->active('new-dashboard')) {
          // ...
      }
  }
  

- Keep Flags Short-Lived
Remove feature flags once the feature is fully rolled out and stable to keep the codebase clean.

- Document Flags Clearly
Maintain documentation on what each flag does, its intended users, and rollout strategy.

- Plan for Rollbacks
Have a rollback plan by quickly disabling flags if issues arise during rollout.

Summary of the Incremental Rollout Process Using Pennant

- Define feature flags centrally with clear naming and tagging.
- Use conditional checks in your application to render features based on flag status.
- Start rollout with targeted user segments (e.g., admins or beta testers).
- Gradually increase feature availability using percentage rollouts or random assignment.
- Use context-aware flags to tailor feature visibility per user or environment.
- Monitor performance and user feedback continuously.
- Clean up flags after full rollout and maintain good documentation.

By following these steps, Laravel Pennant allows you to confidently and safely roll out new features incrementally, reducing risk and improving user experience throughout the deployment process[6][7][9][10].

Citations:
[1] https://launchdarkly.com/docs/home/releases/percentage-rollouts
[2] https://www.split.io/blog/rollout-strategies-faster-delivery-feature-flags/
[3] https://www.optimizely.com/optimization-glossary/feature-rollout/
[4] https://konnectway.com/understanding-feature-flags-in-laravel-development/
[5] https://www.featbit.co/articles/canary-release-feature-flags-guide/
[6] https://bmehul.com/articles/laravel-pennant-a-guide-to-feature-flags
[7] https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-laravel-pennant-help-you-roll-out-features-ease-mabugay-trxtc
[8] https://www.getunleash.io/feature-flag-use-cases-progressive-or-gradual-rollouts
[9] https://wpwebinfotech.com/blog/laravel-pennant-guide/
[10] https://laravel.com/docs/11.x/pennant