Experimental Component Flags

Experimental component flags identify early-stage components that lack stability guarantees and may change significantly. These flags communicate that components are available for evaluation but not ready for critical production use. Clear experimental designation prevents surprises when components evolve.

What Are Experimental Component Flags

Experimental flags are indicators marking components as early-stage work without stability commitments. Experimental components may have incomplete features, changing APIs, undocumented behaviors, or known issues. Flags warn consumers about these characteristics.

Experimental status serves release strategy purposes. It enables early access to components before they are fully stable. It allows gathering feedback and real-world usage data. It provides space for iteration without breaking change overhead. Experimental phases balance early availability against stability expectations.

How Experimental Component Flags Work

Flag implementation adds experimental indicators to components. Naming conventions might prefix experimental components. Export paths might separate experimental components. Documentation displays experimental badges. Runtime warnings might alert when experimental components are used. Multiple mechanisms reinforce the experimental status.

Access control may limit experimental component availability. Experimental components might be excluded from main exports. Opt-in configuration might be required to use them. Access limitations ensure consumers consciously choose to use experimental components.

Documentation clarifies experimental implications. What stability guarantees are not provided. How feedback can be shared. What might change. When stable release is expected. Clear documentation sets appropriate expectations.

Feedback collection prioritizes input from experimental component users. Issues, surveys, and direct communication gather reactions. Feedback informs iteration decisions and identifies problems before stable release.

Graduation criteria define when experimental components become stable. Criteria might include API stability, documentation completeness, test coverage, accessibility compliance, and successful usage in production. Clear criteria guide progression toward stability.

Key Considerations

• Experimental components should eventually graduate or be removed, not remain experimental indefinitely
• Experimental usage should be visible so consumers can track what they depend on
• Feedback from experimental users is valuable; make collection easy
• Experimental changes need not follow full deprecation processes but should still be communicated
• Timeline expectations help consumers plan around experimental components

Common Questions

How long should components remain experimental?

Duration depends on feedback velocity, issue resolution speed, and stability readiness. Timeboxing encourages focus: perhaps components must graduate or be removed within 6-12 months. However, artificial deadlines should not force premature graduation. Indefinite experimental status suggests either neglect or misuse of the designation. Regular review of experimental components ensures they progress toward resolution rather than lingering indefinitely.

Should experimental components be used in production?

Production use is a judgment call. Experimental components in low-risk areas where instability is acceptable may be fine. Experimental components in critical paths where breakage would be severe should be avoided. Consumers should understand the risks, have capacity to respond to changes, and weigh early access benefits against instability costs. Some organizations prohibit experimental production use; others permit it with awareness.

Summary

Experimental component flags identify early-stage components through naming conventions, export paths, documentation badges, and runtime warnings. Access control may require opt-in for experimental use. Documentation clarifies implications and expectations. Feedback collection informs iteration. Graduation criteria define when experimental components become stable. Experimental status should be temporary, with components eventually graduating or being removed rather than remaining experimental indefinitely.