Why we ship the feature flag before the feature

Introduction

An argument for writing the flag, the metrics, and the rollback path before the first line of feature code, with a checklist sized for small teams.

Why this keeps coming up

Every Implementation conversation eventually lands on the same tension: what is comfortable for the team today versus what the project will need in a year. Neither side wins by argument alone.

A way to think about it

• Defaults outlive intentions — design them deliberately.
• Decisions are cheap to make and expensive to communicate; budget for the second part.
• Disagreement is data. Write down what would change your mind.

What I would do

Start smaller than feels useful, write the reasoning in the commit or the RFC, and revisit it on a calendar date rather than a feeling.

Closing thoughts

Taste in Implementation is mostly memory. Collect yours on purpose.