How to Implement Production-Ready Feature Flag Change Requests

Feature flag change requests, akin to pull requests in code management, are crucial for implementing the four-eyes principle, which requires changes to be approved by a second party to ensure accuracy and security. Effective change request systems for feature flags should allow for previewing changes, scheduling future implementations, and safeguarding against errors and malicious actions. Key capabilities include the ability to approve changes to single or multiple flags simultaneously, manage user targeting segments, and apply batch operations across environments. Additionally, archiving flags should also go through the change request process to prevent unintended impacts on user experiences. The article highlights the complexity of establishing a robust change request system and contrasts the capabilities of Unleash and LaunchDarkly, noting that Unleash supports multiple features simultaneously, such as flag and segment changes, which LaunchDarkly does not.