Company
Date Published
Author
Harness Team
Word count
949
Language
English
Hacker News points
None

Summary

Split is implementing a new streaming architecture using Server-Sent Events (SSE) to deliver feature flag changes in real time, reducing latency to under a second while maintaining reliability with a hybrid model that includes automatic fallback to polling. This shift comes as a response to customer feedback emphasizing the importance of immediate change propagation, and it builds upon a stable polling architecture that has served increasing traffic demands, including half a trillion flags in the previous month. The new system, set to be the default within two months, aims to improve performance by minimizing network traffic and leveraging native browser support, with ongoing benchmarks ensuring consistent results across different locations. While streaming will be the preferred mode due to its speed and efficiency, polling remains an option for situations where it offers advantages such as scalability and resilience in unreliable networks. Split's approach to feature flag management, which includes tools for experimentation and data-driven decision-making, continues to evolve with this technological advancement, promising an exciting future for users looking to enhance development processes.