Feature flags for blue-green deployment: getting started

Blue-green deployment is a software delivery method designed to minimize the risks of downtime and errors during code deployments by using two identical production environments, blue and green, in parallel. This approach allows new code to be tested in the green environment while the blue environment continues running the previous version, enabling quick rollbacks if issues arise. Feature flags can enhance or sometimes replace blue-green deployments by providing granular control over feature releases, allowing for complex testing scenarios and frequent updates without replicating the entire production environment. The combination of blue-green deployments with feature flags offers a robust strategy for deploying software updates, balancing risk management with flexibility and control. Open-source systems like Unleash provide an alternative to proprietary feature management tools, offering customizable solutions for specific use cases.