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HotCakeX's avatar
HotCakeX
MVP
Sep 13, 2019

Add Import/Export Flags option

Let us import/export the list of enabled flags in Edge insider so we can apply it again to other builds or the same build after a reinstall. alternative is to sync flags with our Microsoft account l...
request
  • HotCakeX's avatar
    HotCakeX
    Jan 20, 2020

    So i found a workaround for this, even though there hasn't still been added any functionality to the UI, it can be done using unconventional ways.

     

    The file containing the state of flags is in the user directory.

     

    for Edge Canary: "C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Edge SxS\User Data\Local State"

    for Edge Dev: "C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Edge Dev\User Data\Local State"

    for Edge Stable: "C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Edge\User Data\Local State"

     

    *replace USERNAME with your own Windows Username.

     

    You can backup the "Local State" to keep your applied flags or keep the record of them.

    you can use the file by copying it to multiple machines to apply the same flags to all of them. it can be done in organizations and push the same flags to all of computers.

     

    I tried it myself on latest Edge Canary and Dev (version 81) and it worked.

Elliot Kirk's avatar
Elliot Kirk
Icon for Microsoft rankMicrosoft

Hi HotCakeX, we view flags as a very temporary way for us to experiment and control feature roll-outs.  If you are dependent on a flag, either being enabled or disabled, filing feedback is a much better way.  We can then look at either adding it as a fully supported feature, or as a setting that users can toggle on and off.  Thanks - Elliot

HotCakeX's avatar
HotCakeX
MVP
Sep 13, 2019
Thanks for clarifying, I didn't know you view flags that way,
in that case, would you please consider this:
you are using controlled roll out or A/B testing so unlike Google Chrome canary, not everyone have access to the same feature sets.
also now you mentioned that you use flags to experiment and control feature roll-outs.
the problem is, not every feature that you introduce as part of the controlled or A/B rollout, can be activated using flags. the switch is still in the hands of the Edge team.
for example the new privacy dashboard design, or the share button, or the tab grouping feature and many more features like that, are not available in flags.
there is no way for an enthusiastic user to test out these new features, because we have no control over them.
Canary channel is kind of supposed to be having bleeding edge technology, not very much stability although stability is very great.

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