188 lines
6 KiB
Markdown
188 lines
6 KiB
Markdown
---
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type: reference
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description: "GitLab development - how to document features deployed behind feature flags"
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---
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# Document features deployed behind feature flags
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GitLab uses [Feature Flags](../feature_flags/index.md) to strategically roll
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out the deployment of its own features. The way we document a feature behind a
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feature flag depends on its state (enabled or disabled). When the state
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changes, the developer who made the change **must update the documentation**
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accordingly.
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## Criteria
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According to the process of [deploying GitLab features behind feature flags](../feature_flags/process.md):
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> - _By default, feature flags should be off._
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> - _Feature flags should remain in the codebase for a short period as possible to reduce the need for feature flag accounting._
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> - _In order to build a final release and present the feature for self-managed users, the feature flag should be at least defaulted to on._
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See how to document them below, according to the state of the flag:
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- [Features disabled by default](#features-disabled-by-default).
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- [Features that became enabled by default](#features-that-became-enabled-by-default).
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- [Features directly enabled by default](#features-directly-enabled-by-default).
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- [Features with the feature flag removed](#features-with-flag-removed).
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NOTE: **Note:**
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The [`**(CORE ONLY)**`](styleguide.md#product-badges) badge or equivalent for
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the feature's tier should be added to the line and heading that refers to
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enabling/disabling feature flags as Admin access is required to do so,
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therefore, it indicates that it cannot be done by regular users of GitLab.com.
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### Features disabled by default
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For features disabled by default, if they cannot be used yet due to lack of
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completeness, or if they're still under internal evaluation (for example, for
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performance implications) do **not document them**: add (or merge) the docs
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only when the feature is safe and ready to use and test by end users.
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For feature flags disabled by default, if they can be used by end users:
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- Say that it's disabled by default.
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- Say whether it's enabled on GitLab.com.
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- Say whether it's recommended for production use.
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- Document how to enable and disable it.
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For example, for a feature disabled by default, disabled on GitLab.com, and
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not ready for production use:
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````markdown
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# Feature Name
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> - [Introduced](link-to-issue) in GitLab 12.0.
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> - It's deployed behind a feature flag, disabled by default.
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> - It's disabled on GitLab.com.
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> - It's not recommended for production use.
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> - To use it in GitLab self-managed instances, ask a GitLab administrator to [enable it](#anchor-to-section). **(CORE ONLY)**
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(...)
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### Enable or disable <Feature Name> **(CORE ONLY)**
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<Feature Name> is under development and not ready for production use. It is
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deployed behind a feature flag that is **disabled by default**.
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[GitLab administrators with access to the GitLab Rails console](../path/to/administration/feature_flags.md)
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can enable it for your instance.
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To enable it:
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```ruby
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Feature.enable(:<feature flag>)
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```
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To disable it:
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```ruby
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Feature.disable(:<feature flag>)
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```
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````
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Adjust the blurb according to the state of the feature you're documenting.
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### Features that became enabled by default
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For features that became enabled by default:
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- Say that it became enabled by default.
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- Say whether it's enabled on GitLab.com.
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- Say whether it's recommended for production use.
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- Document how to disable and enable it.
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For example, for a feature initially deployed disabled by default, that became enabled by default, that is enabled on GitLab.com, and ready for production use:
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````markdown
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# Feature Name
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> - [Introduced](link-to-issue) in GitLab 12.0.
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> - It was deployed behind a feature flag, disabled by default.
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> - [Became enabled by default](link-to-issue) on GitLab 12.1.
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> - It's enabled on GitLab.com.
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> - It's recommended for production use.
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> - For GitLab self-managed instances, GitLab administrators can opt to [disable it](#anchor-to-section). **(CORE ONLY)**
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(...)
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### Enable or disable <Feature Name> **(CORE ONLY)**
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<Feature Name> is under development but ready for production use.
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It is deployed behind a feature flag that is **enabled by default**.
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[GitLab administrators with access to the GitLab Rails console](..path/to/administration/feature_flags.md)
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can opt to disable it for your instance.
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To disable it:
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```ruby
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Feature.disable(:<feature flag>)
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```
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To enable it:
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```ruby
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Feature.enable(:<feature flag>)
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```
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````
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Adjust the blurb according to the state of the feature you're documenting.
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### Features directly enabled by default
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For features enabled by default:
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- Say it's enabled by default.
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- Say whether it's enabled on GitLab.com.
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- Say whether it's recommended for production use.
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- Document how to disable and enable it.
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For example, for a feature enabled by default, enabled on GitLab.com, and ready for production use:
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````markdown
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# Feature Name
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> - [Introduced](link-to-issue) in GitLab 12.0.
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> - It's deployed behind a feature flag, enabled by default.
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> - It's enabled on GitLab.com.
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> - It's recommended for production use.
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> - For GitLab self-managed instances, GitLab administrators can opt to [disable it](#anchor-to-section). **(CORE ONLY)**
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(...)
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### Enable or disable <Feature Name> **(CORE ONLY)**
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<Feature Name> is under development but ready for production use.
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It is deployed behind a feature flag that is **enabled by default**.
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[GitLab administrators with access to the GitLab Rails console](..path/to/administration/feature_flags.md)
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can opt to disable it for your instance.
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To disable it:
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```ruby
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Feature.disable(:<feature flag>)
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```
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To enable it:
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```ruby
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Feature.enable(:<feature flag>)
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```
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````
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Adjust the blurb according to the state of the feature you're documenting.
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### Features with flag removed
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Once the feature is ready and the flag has been removed, clean up the
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documentation. Remove the feature flag mention keeping only a note that
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mentions the flag in the version history notes:
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````markdown
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# Feature Name
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> - [Introduced](link-to-issue) in GitLab 12.0.
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> - [Feature flag removed](link-to-issue) in GitLab 12.2.
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(...)
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````
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