Feature Flags for Microservices? Why Your Microservices Need Feature Toggles

Microservices is a practice that breaks down monolithic releases into discrete services, allowing for independent release schedules. This approach was popularized by Martin Fowler and implemented by companies like Amazon and Netflix. However, microservices can make releases more complex due to the need for extensive testing between components. Feature flags offer a solution to this problem, enabling engineering teams to control various microservices effectively. By wrapping microservices with feature flags, traffic can be gradually directed to new versions while ensuring functionality in other services. This approach allows for "microdeployments" of microservices and helps unlock the value of decoupling.