BanibrataChatterjee Feature Flags via Custom Metadata
Feature flags decouple deploy from release. Custom Metadata Types deploy with the codebase, are queryable from Apex/LWC/Flow without SOQL limits, and can be toggled per environment via the Metadata API or Setup UI. This skill defines a canonical Feature_Flag__mdt layout (Name, Is_Enabled__c, Percent_Rollout__c, Allowed_Users__c, Allowed_Profiles__c) plus a singleton FeatureFlags Apex accessor.
When to Use
Every non-trivial release that needs a kill switch, a percentage rollout, or a user-population cohort. Not for permanent configuration.
Typical trigger phrases that should route to this skill: feature flag salesforce, custom metadata toggle, gradual rollout apex, kill switch feature.
Recommended Workflow
- Define Feature_Flag__mdt with Is_Enabled__c, Percent_Rollout__c (0-100), Allowed_Users__c (multi-select), Allowed_Profiles__c.
- Author an Apex FeatureFlags class with isEnabled(String name) that checks CMDT + rollout hash on UserInfo.getUserId().
- Expose a @AuraEnabled(cacheable=true) method for LWC; cache in wire service with 5-minute TTL.
- Ship each new feature wrapped in isEnabled guard; default Is_Enabled__c=false on new CMDT record.
- Post-release: measure, then either delete the flag (cleanup) or leave disabled (kill switch).
Key Considerations
- Percentage rollout must be deterministic per user (hash UserId % 100) — not random — so a user's experience is stable.
- Keep flag lifetimes bounded; dead flags rot into permanent dead code.
- CMDT is cached per transaction; no SOQL limit impact.
- Don't use a custom setting for flags — CMDT deploys cleanly across sandboxes.
Worked Examples (see references/examples.md)
- Apex accessor — New discount engine
- LWC toggle via @wire — New header variant
Common Gotchas (see references/gotchas.md)
- Random vs. deterministic rollout — Users see feature flicker on/off each page load.
- Dead flags — Codebase accumulates 50 flags, 40 dead.
- CMDT record shipped with Enabled=true — Feature lights up in prod on deploy.
Top LLM Anti-Patterns (full list in references/llm-anti-patterns.md)
- Custom Setting for flags (doesn't deploy cleanly)
- Random rollout instead of hashed
- Never deleting old flags
Official Sources Used
- Salesforce DX Developer Guide — https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.sfdx_dev.meta/sfdx_dev/
- Unlocked Packaging — https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.sfdx_dev.meta/sfdx_dev/sfdx_dev_dev2gp.htm
- SF CLI — https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.sfdx_cli_reference.meta/sfdx_cli_reference/
- DevOps Center — https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sf.devops_center_overview.htm
- Scratch Org Snapshots — https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.sfdx_dev.meta/sfdx_dev/sfdx_dev_scratch_orgs_snapshots.htm
- sfdx-hardis — https://sfdx-hardis.cloudity.com/