GitLab Feature Flags

4 posts · Aug 2019 – Mar 2026

What this trail covers

GitLab's feature flags capability, integrated with the Unleash SDK, allows for decoupling deployment from release. This tutorial demonstrates how to use the Unleash Python SDK to connect to GitLab's Unleash-compatible API for real-time control of feature flags in a Flask application. It covers setting up flags, understanding strategies (like percent rollout and user IDs), obtaining credentials, integrating the SDK, and checking flag status locally for immediate application behavior changes without network calls per check. The integration uses a project-specific Instance ID for read-only access to flag state.

All GitLab trails

Mar 2026Getting started with GitLab feature flags in PythonThis post details the integration of the Unleash Python SDK with GitLab's feature flags API to control feature releases in a Flask application. It explains how to set up feature flags in GitLab, obtain project-specific Unleash credentials (API URL and Instance ID), and configure the Python application using environment variables. The core of the integration involves initializing the `UnleashClient` which fetches and caches flag definitions locally for fast, offline evaluation via `is_enabled()`. It also demonstrates how to pass user context for targeted strategies and shows the real-time effect of toggling flags in the GitLab UI on the running application.
Aug 2023Behind the scenes of the Remote Development Beta releaseThis post details the technical challenges and strategic decisions involved in merging a large integration branch for the Remote Development feature into the main GitLab `master` branch. It highlights the use of feature flags to enable a beta release, the management of a large merge request with extensive CI pipeline coverage, and the organization of follow-up tasks into child epics. It also touches upon the application security and database review processes.
Feb 2021Interesting things UX is working on - February 2021This post details UX work on improving feature flag management by proposing to treat feature flags as an issue type. This would allow users to manage feature flags in a centralized location and leverage existing issue capabilities like comments and threaded discussions. This is currently in solution validation with development work planned to start in 13.10.
Aug 2019Learn more about Feature Flags: The next step in Progressive DeliveryThis post introduces the concept of Feature Flags as a mechanism for Progressive Delivery, detailing their categories (release, experiment, ops, permission toggles) and best practices for implementation, including managing stale flags. It highlights GitLab's existing alpha feature flag capabilities for specific users and percent rollout per environment, and announces upcoming functionality. The post emphasizes integrating feature flags within the DevOps platform to overcome challenges associated with external systems.
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