248 - Feature Flags & A/B Testing: A Deep Dive with Ishan Khanna

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Jun 26, 2023

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ANECDOTE

Glide Vs Picasso Experiment

At Booking.com Ishan proposed switching Picasso to Glide and ran an A/B test by swapping image-loading strategies.
The result was neutral, teaching him to prefer data-backed changes over hot-technology moves.

ADVICE

Experiment With Minimal Changes

Make the smallest possible change for an experiment so you can attribute results clearly.
Break big migrations into smaller steps and iterate after detecting a signal.

INSIGHT

Flags Enable Tests, Tests Require Flags

A/B testing is the data collection and analysis process, while feature flags are the technical mechanism to expose control and variant groups.
Feature flags without measurement are just gating; measurement makes them experiments.

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In this edition of Fragmented, we're thrilled to host Ishan Khanna, a software engineer at Tinder who possesses great enthusiasm for feature flags and A/B testing. Donn discusses why he invited Ishan on the show, highlighting Ishan's passion for feature flagging and A/B testing. The conversation kicks off with an insightful story from Ishan about feature flagging at Booking.com, leading to a discussion on the difference between A/B Testing and Feature Flags, when and why to introduce feature flagging, and how to measure its effectiveness. The show also focuses on the benefits and risks of feature flagging, along with ways to manage potential complexities in the codebase.

We then delve deeper into the topic of feature flagging, covering how to get started, what to look for in a tool, and the role of testing. Discussion points include the best practices for rollout percentages, considerations for multi-platform implementation, and the specifics of targeting in feature flagging. The conversation wraps up with an exploration of available tools for those looking to introduce feature flagging or A/B testing frameworks into their operations, examining when it might be necessary to build a bespoke solution.

The episode offers a wealth of resources for listeners, including links to an array of feature flagging and A/B testing tools, such as Firebase Remote Config, Optimizely, and LaunchDarkly. For more insight into the topics discussed, Ishan recommends his Droidcon Berlin talk on 'Customer Driven Development' and Stuart Frisby’s talk on A/B Testing. To reach out to Ishan, listeners can contact him via Twitter, LinkedIn, or his website.

Links

Here are the links mentioned in the document, in markdown format:

Contact Ishan

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Donn

Kaushik

kau.sh (has links to all my networks)
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youtube.kau.sh (on YouTube)

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