Build & DeployConference50min
Fun with Flags: Feature Flagging Without the Pain
This talk highlights how feature flags can transform software delivery but are hindered by vendor lock-in and poor tooling. It introduces OpenFeature, an open, vendor-agnostic solution that overcomes these issues, making feature flagging practical and accessible, and unlocking its full benefits for agile development.
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Simon Schrottner
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Wednesday, May 6, 16:00-16:50
Room B
Feature flags have the potential to revolutionize the software delivery lifecycle, enabling teams to decouple releases from deployments and create a more agile development process. They're often hailed as one of the key practices in modern software development—at least in theory.
In practice, however, the reality has been far less appealing. Vendor lock-in, poor observability, and limited functionality have created such friction that many teams have simply retreated to environment variables. Yet this compromise means missing out on feature flags' true power: reducing the blast radius of bugs, gaining deeper production insights, and empowering everyone across the software delivery lifecycle to contribute meaningfully.
The OpenFeature community is changing this narrative by tackling these challenges head-on. With vendor-agnostic SDKs and a suite of powerful tools, OpenFeature makes feature flagging accessible and practical—without the traditional pain points. Join me as we explore why feature flagging deserves a second chance and discover how OpenFeature can finally bring the fun back into this critical aspect of software development.
In practice, however, the reality has been far less appealing. Vendor lock-in, poor observability, and limited functionality have created such friction that many teams have simply retreated to environment variables. Yet this compromise means missing out on feature flags' true power: reducing the blast radius of bugs, gaining deeper production insights, and empowering everyone across the software delivery lifecycle to contribute meaningfully.
The OpenFeature community is changing this narrative by tackling these challenges head-on. With vendor-agnostic SDKs and a suite of powerful tools, OpenFeature makes feature flagging accessible and practical—without the traditional pain points. Join me as we explore why feature flagging deserves a second chance and discover how OpenFeature can finally bring the fun back into this critical aspect of software development.
Simon Schrottner
I help teams release faster and with more confidence — through open standards, feature flagging, and the communities that make both possible.
I am Simon — software engineer, open source enthusiast, CNCF Ambassador, and father. Based in Austria, happiest when climbing something or cooking for a crowd.
I am a maintainer of OpenFeature, the CNCF vendor-neutral standard for feature flagging, contributing across the full organisation in Java, Python, Go, and JavaScript. I care deeply about developer experience and building communities where people help each other grow.
At Dynatrace I wore many hats — from OSPO support and OpenFeature adoption to Team Captain, intern mentor, and conference speaker. Dynatrace and I parted ways recently, and I am open to conversations about what comes next.
Long-time Couchsurfer and Warmshowers host — I believe in the kind of community where strangers help each other out, no strings attached.
I still describe myself as an Enabler. That part hasn't changed.
I am Simon — software engineer, open source enthusiast, CNCF Ambassador, and father. Based in Austria, happiest when climbing something or cooking for a crowd.
I am a maintainer of OpenFeature, the CNCF vendor-neutral standard for feature flagging, contributing across the full organisation in Java, Python, Go, and JavaScript. I care deeply about developer experience and building communities where people help each other grow.
At Dynatrace I wore many hats — from OSPO support and OpenFeature adoption to Team Captain, intern mentor, and conference speaker. Dynatrace and I parted ways recently, and I am open to conversations about what comes next.
Long-time Couchsurfer and Warmshowers host — I believe in the kind of community where strangers help each other out, no strings attached.
I still describe myself as an Enabler. That part hasn't changed.