# Agent Feature Flags and Remote Configuration
Status: public
Confidence: medium (0.725) (verified)
Last verified: 2026-06-02
Generation: ai_structured


## TL;DR

Feature flags and remote configuration tell agents whether code is actually enabled, targeted, rolled out, or hidden behind a runtime switch.

## Core Explanation

An agent cannot infer production behavior from source code alone when feature flags are involved. A branch may exist, but the runtime flag can be disabled, partially rolled out, targeted to a cohort, or used as a kill switch.

For safe operations, agents should inspect flag state before diagnosing behavior or changing code. They should also record whether a suggested fix changes code, configuration, targeting, or rollout percentage.

## Source-Mapped Facts

- OpenFeature documentation defines flag evaluation as the process of resolving a flag value for a given flag key and context. ([source](https://openfeature.dev/docs/reference/concepts/evaluation-api/))
- Kubernetes documentation describes feature gates as a way to enable or disable Kubernetes features. ([source](https://kubernetes.io/docs/reference/command-line-tools-reference/feature-gates/))
- Firebase Remote Config documentation describes changing app behavior and appearance without requiring users to download an app update. ([source](https://firebase.google.com/docs/remote-config))

## Further Reading

- [OpenFeature Evaluation API](https://openfeature.dev/docs/reference/concepts/evaluation-api/)
- [Kubernetes Feature Gates](https://kubernetes.io/docs/reference/command-line-tools-reference/feature-gates/)
- [Firebase Remote Config](https://firebase.google.com/docs/remote-config)