Featurecompatible
Featurecompatible is an adjective used to describe software, data formats, APIs, and hardware interfaces that preserve the functionality and behavior of existing features when evolving to new versions or different environments. A featurecompatible system continues to support established features while enabling new capabilities, avoiding unexpected regressions for users and downstream integrations.
Feature compatibility generally encompasses backward compatibility (new versions support features used by older ones) and forward
Common techniques include semantic versioning to signal compatibility expectations, feature flags to enable or disable capabilities
Feature compatibility applies to APIs, data formats, communication protocols, file formats, and software libraries, as well
Maintaining feature compatibility can constrain innovation and complicate maintenance. Trade-offs include keeping deprecated features for transition
See also: backward compatibility, forward compatibility, semantic versioning, deprecation policy, feature flags.