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AnimeThemes Server uses Laravel Pennant to manage feature flags, allowing you to enable or disable features without deploying new code.

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Overview

Feature flags are stored in the database and can be toggled at runtime. Users with the BYPASS_FEATURE_FLAGS permission can always access all features regardless of flag state.

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Available Feature Flags

The following feature flags are available in AnimeThemes Server:

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AllowVideoStreams

Controls whether video streaming is enabled. Location: app/Features/AllowVideoStreams.php 
use App\Features\AllowVideoStreams;
use Laravel\Pennant\Feature;

// Check if video streaming is enabled
if (Feature::active(AllowVideoStreams::class)) {
    // Video streaming is enabled
}

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AllowAudioStreams

Controls whether audio streaming is enabled. Location: app/Features/AllowAudioStreams.php 
use App\Features\AllowAudioStreams;
use Laravel\Pennant\Feature;

// Check if audio streaming is enabled
if (Feature::active(AllowAudioStreams::class)) {
    // Audio streaming is enabled
}

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AllowSubmission

Controls whether users can submit new content (anime, themes, etc.). Location: app/Features/AllowSubmission.php 
use App\Features\AllowSubmission;
use Laravel\Pennant\Feature;

// Check if submissions are enabled
if (Feature::active(AllowSubmission::class)) {
    // Submissions are enabled
}

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AllowPlaylistManagement

Controls whether users can create and manage playlists. Location: app/Features/AllowPlaylistManagement.php 
use App\Features\AllowPlaylistManagement;
use Laravel\Pennant\Feature;

// Check if playlist management is enabled
if (Feature::active(AllowPlaylistManagement::class)) {
    // Playlist management is enabled
}

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AllowExternalProfileManagement

Controls whether users can link and manage external profiles (MyAnimeList, AniList, etc.). Location: app/Features/AllowExternalProfileManagement.php 
use App\Features\AllowExternalProfileManagement;
use Laravel\Pennant\Feature;

// Check if external profile management is enabled
if (Feature::active(AllowExternalProfileManagement::class)) {
    // External profile management is enabled
}

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AllowDumpDownloading

Controls whether database dump downloads are available. Location: app/Features/AllowDumpDownloading.php 
use App\Features\AllowDumpDownloading;
use Laravel\Pennant\Feature;

// Check if dump downloading is enabled
if (Feature::active(AllowDumpDownloading::class)) {
    // Dump downloading is enabled
}

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AllowScriptDownloading

Controls whether video encoding script downloads are available. Location: app/Features/AllowScriptDownloading.php 
use App\Features\AllowScriptDownloading;
use Laravel\Pennant\Feature;

// Check if script downloading is enabled
if (Feature::active(AllowScriptDownloading::class)) {
    // Script downloading is enabled
}

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Configuration

Feature flags are configured in config/pennant.php: 
return [
    'default' => env('PENNANT_STORE', 'database'),
    
    'stores' => [
        'database' => [
            'driver' => 'database',
            'connection' => env('DB_CONNECTION', 'mysql_prod'),
            'table' => 'features',
        ],
        
        'array' => [
            'driver' => 'array',
        ],
    ],
];

​
Environment Variables

VariableDefaultDescription
PENNANT_STOREdatabaseFeature flag store: database or array

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Managing Feature Flags

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Enable a Feature

php artisan pennant:activate "App\Features\AllowVideoStreams"

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Disable a Feature

php artisan pennant:deactivate "App\Features\AllowVideoStreams"

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Check Feature Status

php artisan pennant:list

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Clear Feature Cache

php artisan pennant:purge

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Database Structure

Feature flags are stored in the features table: 
CREATE TABLE features (
    name VARCHAR(255) NOT NULL,
    scope VARCHAR(255) NOT NULL,
    value BOOLEAN NOT NULL,
    created_at TIMESTAMP NULL,
    updated_at TIMESTAMP NULL,
    PRIMARY KEY (name, scope)
);

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Using Feature Flags in Code

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In Controllers

use App\Features\AllowVideoStreams;
use Laravel\Pennant\Feature;

class VideoController extends Controller
{
    public function stream(Video $video)
    {
        if (!Feature::active(AllowVideoStreams::class)) {
            abort(403, 'Video streaming is currently disabled');
        }
        
        // Stream the video
    }
}

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In Middleware

use App\Features\AllowSubmission;
use Closure;
use Laravel\Pennant\Feature;

class EnsureSubmissionsEnabled
{
    public function handle($request, Closure $next)
    {
        if (!Feature::active(AllowSubmission::class)) {
            return response()->json([
                'message' => 'Submissions are currently disabled'
            ], 403);
        }
        
        return $next($request);
    }
}

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In Blade Templates

@feature('App\Features\AllowPlaylistManagement')
    <button>Create Playlist</button>
@endfeature

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For Specific Users

All feature flags in AnimeThemes check if the user has the BYPASS_FEATURE_FLAGS permission: 
public function resolve(?User $user): bool
{
    if ($user?->can(SpecialPermission::BYPASS_FEATURE_FLAGS->value)) {
        return true;
    }
    
    return Feature::for(null)->value(static::class);
}
This allows administrators to access features even when they’re disabled globally.

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Creating New Feature Flags

To create a new feature flag:
  1. Create a new class in app/Features/:
<?php

namespace App\Features;

use App\Enums\Auth\SpecialPermission;
use App\Models\Auth\User;
use Laravel\Pennant\Feature;

class AllowNewFeature
{
    public function resolve(?User $user): bool
    {
        if ($user?->can(SpecialPermission::BYPASS_FEATURE_FLAGS->value)) {
            return true;
        }
        
        return Feature::for(null)->value(static::class);
    }
}
  1. Use the feature flag in your code:
use App\Features\AllowNewFeature;
use Laravel\Pennant\Feature;

if (Feature::active(AllowNewFeature::class)) {
    // Feature is enabled
}
  1. Activate the feature:
php artisan pennant:activate "App\Features\AllowNewFeature"

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Best Practices

Enable new features for a subset of users or environments before rolling out to everyone.
The BYPASS_FEATURE_FLAGS permission allows users to access all features. Only grant this to trusted administrators.
Once a feature is fully rolled out and stable, remove the feature flag to reduce technical debt.
Keep track of which features are enabled in which environments (production, staging, development).

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Troubleshooting

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Feature flag changes not taking effect

Clear the feature cache: 
php artisan pennant:purge
php artisan cache:clear

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Cannot access features table

Ensure the database migration has run: 
php artisan migrate
The features table is created by Laravel Pennant’s migration.

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Feature always enabled/disabled

Check if the user has the BYPASS_FEATURE_FLAGS permission, which overrides all feature flag checks.

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Next Steps

Environment Variables

Configure environment variables

REST API

Explore the REST API

Storage Configuration

Set up file storage

Authentication

Manage users and permissions

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