Overview
Dark launching involves releasing code to production that is executed in the background but does not affect the user interface or experience. It is primarily used to test backend performance and infrastructure readiness under real-world load.
Key Concepts
- Shadow Traffic: Mirroring real user requests to the new feature without returning the result to the user.
- Background Processing: Running new logic alongside old logic to compare results.
- Load Testing: Verifying that the new feature can handle production traffic levels.
Benefits
- Performance Validation: Identify bottlenecks before users see the feature.
- Data Integrity: Ensure new logic produces correct results by comparing it with the old system.
- Reduced Launch Anxiety: Confidence that the infrastructure is ready for the full release.