The Build vs. Buy(ers) Guide
Why homegrown feature systems break, and how a runtime control plane closes the gap
Introduction
Most homegrown feature flagging systems offer advantages early on. But what starts as a fast, flexible internal tool can become a source of uncertainty, manual work, and operational risk. And slowing down delivery to add more checks and processes only defeats the purpose of continuous deployment. Modern software teams shouldn’t have to choose between speed, safety, and insight.
Learn how leading engineering organizations moved beyond DIY feature management and replaced fragile, fragmented systems with a unified runtime control plane. This guide explains why most homegrown solutions plateau within 18–24 months, and what teams do next to release faster, safer, and with confidence.
This guide walks you through:
- Why internal feature flag systems inevitably accumulate hidden costs and operational debt
- The predictable lifecycle every homegrown system goes through—and where most teams get stuck
- The four core challenges DIY solutions fail to solve: visibility, governance, experimentation, and resilience
- How LaunchDarkly helps enable safer releases, real-time insight, and enterprise-scale governance from a single platform
Learn more about how modern teams decide when to build and when to buy.
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