OpenFeature is an open specification and standard for feature flagging, supported by the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF). It provides a vendor-agnostic, community-driven API that allows developers to implement feature flags consistently across various feature flag management tools and custom in-house solutions. OpenFeature standardizes the interface between feature flag providers and applications, preventing vendor lock-in at the code level.

Why should I use OpenFeature?

OpenFeature allows you to decouple your application logic from specific feature flagging services, enabling you to switch between providers without changing your underlying code. It standardizes feature flag usage across your organization, provides flexibility and portability, and ensures you're not locked into a single vendor. DevCycle is built natively on OpenFeature, making it the ideal choice for teams who want OpenFeature compliance without compromise.

Which programming languages are supported by OpenFeature?

OpenFeature supports all major programming languages including JavaScript, Python, Java, Go, .NET, PHP, Ruby, and more. DevCycle's SDKs are built for the OpenFeature standard and offer some of the most feature-complete OpenFeature providers on the market.

Who is behind OpenFeature?

OpenFeature is governed by the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) and maintained by a community of industry experts including members from major companies like Microsoft, Dynatrace, and DevCycle. The OpenFeature governance board includes experienced professionals who have been working with feature flags for years. DevCycle's founders are active OpenFeature governance board members, making DevCycle uniquely positioned to provide the best OpenFeature experience.

What is the difference between OpenFeature and proprietary feature flag SDKs?

Proprietary feature flag SDKs lock you into a specific vendor's implementation and API. If you want to switch providers, you need to rewrite all of your feature flag code. OpenFeature SDKs use a standardized API that works with any OpenFeature-compatible provider, including DevCycle. This means you can switch between providers by simply changing your configuration, not your code.

How do I get started with OpenFeature?

The easiest way to get started with OpenFeature is to use DevCycle, the first and only OpenFeature-native platform. Simply install the OpenFeature SDK for your language, configure the DevCycle provider, and you're ready to go. DevCycle handles all the complexity of feature flag management while providing full OpenFeature compatibility. You can start with our free tier and be up and running in minutes.

What is an OpenFeature provider?

An OpenFeature provider is a component that implements the OpenFeature specification for a specific feature flag service. The provider acts as a bridge between the standardized OpenFeature API and the feature flag service's backend. DevCycle offers OpenFeature providers for all our supported languages, providing seamless integration with the OpenFeature ecosystem while delivering enterprise-grade performance and reliability.

Can I use OpenFeature with my existing feature flag setup?

Yes! OpenFeature is designed to work alongside existing feature flag implementations. You can gradually migrate to OpenFeature by replacing your proprietary SDK calls with OpenFeature API calls. DevCycle provides migration tools and documentation to help you transition smoothly from other feature flag providers to our OpenFeature-native platform.

Is OpenFeature production-ready?

Absolutely. OpenFeature has graduated to CNCF incubation status and is used by numerous companies in production. DevCycle has been built on OpenFeature from day one and powers feature flags for thousands of applications worldwide. Our OpenFeature implementation includes enterprise features like edge delivery and real-time updates.

What are OpenFeature hooks?

OpenFeature hooks are a powerful extension mechanism that allows you to run custom code before, during, or after flag evaluations. Hooks enable you to add functionality like logging, monitoring, caching, or custom business logic without modifying your core application code. DevCycle supports all OpenFeature hooks and provides additional hooks for enhanced observability and debugging.

How does OpenFeature handle feature flag evaluation?

OpenFeature standardizes feature flag evaluation through a consistent API that includes context (user information, environment details), flag resolution, and error handling. The evaluation process is handled by the OpenFeature provider (like DevCycle), which determines the flag value based on your targeting rules, user context, and feature flag configuration. This ensures consistent behavior across all OpenFeature-compatible systems.

Why choose DevCycle for OpenFeature?

DevCycle is the first and only OpenFeature-native platform, built by OpenFeature governance board members. We offer the most comprehensive OpenFeature SDK coverage, enterprise-grade features, and seamless OpenFeature integration. Unlike other providers that added OpenFeature support later, DevCycle was designed from the ground up for OpenFeature, ensuring optimal performance, complete standard compliance, and the best developer experience possible.

Decouple Your Flags From Your Vendor

All DevCycle SDKs come with OpenFeature built in, giving you a vendor-neutral, open standard for feature flags and protecting you from vendor lock-in.

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What is OpenFeature?

OpenFeature is a CNCF-supported open specification that offers a vendor-agnostic, community-driven API for feature flagging. It standardizes feature management across tools and vendors, preventing vendor lock-in and provides a framework for building extensions and integrations that can be shared across the community.

Always Own Your Flags

Using a feature flag management tool with OpenFeature SDKs like DevCycle future-proofs your system. This lets you control your flags without locking them into a third party's system.

Avoid Vendor Lock-In at the Code Level

OpenFeature simplifies migration. Change providers at any time with minimal engineering and code changes.

Use Any Vendor, Anytime

OpenFeature is designed to work with any feature management vendor or in-house solution, allowing you to migrate between vendors or consolidate multiple platforms, without code refactoring.

Built by Community Experts

By using an OpenFeature-based feature flag platform, you'll ensure that you won't be reliant on your vendor for support.

DevCycle is Committed to Open Standards

The Most Comprehensive OpenFeature SDK Coverage
DevCycle is the first and only platform that has OpenFeature support built into our open source SDKs, with wide support for client-side and server-side languages.

Leaders in the OpenFeature Community
DevCycle’s founder and CTO sits on the OpenFeature governance board of directors and is committed to supporting the community, its initiatives and promoting open standards.

Proud Contributors and Supporters of Open Standards
DevCycle developers actively contribute to the OpenFeature ecosystem and are proud to be among the thousands of developers supporting open standards.

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multiple roles collaborating to build great software

OpenFeature FAQs

Everything you need to know about OpenFeature and how DevCycle provides the best OpenFeature experience.