Operations → Deployment
Dark Launch
A deployment in which new behavior runs in production but is hidden from ordinary users.
What it is
A deployment in which new behavior runs in production but is hidden from ordinary users.
Why it matters
Dark Launch helps teams reduce ambiguity, coordinate changes, and manage the risk of moving software from source code to users. Its value depends on clear ownership, automation, and feedback rather than the label alone.
Practical guidance
- Define the policy or workflow explicitly.
- Keep changes small, traceable, and reversible.
- Automate repeatable validation where possible.
- Connect decisions to artifacts, environments, releases, and production evidence.
- Review the practice when it creates delay without improving safety.