Feature flags give you precise control over how and when your application’s features are delivered. In CloudBees, feature management helps you gradually roll out changes, test with real users, and manage risk—all from a centralized platform.
To get started, set up an environment, then select or create an application and link it to the environment. Then, create flags to control how features are exposed to users.
How feature management is structured
Feature management uses applications and environments to organize and deliver feature flags:
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Applications group together the elements of your system, for example, your code, jobs, and flags. Applications are scoped within your organization and serve as the main entry point for using feature management.
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Environments represent stages like development, staging, or production. Environments must be linked to an application to use feature management.
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Feature flags are created within an application and apply across all environments linked to the application. Each flag is uniquely scoped to the application where it was created.
Why use applications?
Applications provide a unified way to organize everything related to your software delivery—from flags to workflows and environments. They enable you to:
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Group related flags and configuration logic in one place.
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Navigate between environments, workflows, and releases tied to the same application.
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Maintain a clean separation between different parts of your platform.
Each environment is linked to a specific application, allowing you to manage multiple environments (such as Prod, Test, or Stage) within the same application context.
| If you’re a feature management–only customer, applications are still required. Think of applications as the central connection point that organizes feature flags and the environments they’re linked to. |
How flags relate to applications and environments
Each flag is created within a specific application and automatically becomes available in all environments linked to that application. This structure gives you flexibility to manage rollout strategies across different stages, while maintaining a single application context.
To start using feature management:
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Create or select an environment.
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Select or create an application.
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Link one or more environments to that application.
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Any flag you create in that application appears in all linked environments, ready to be configured.
| Flag characteristic | Shared across all environments in the application? |
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Required flag settings (flag name and type) |
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Optional flag settings |
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