Time Bombs

Time bombs are features that automatically expire after a specified date, preventing abandoned feature flags from cluttering your codebase.

Setting Expiration Dates

Using expiresAt()

use Cline\Toggl\Toggl;

Toggl::define('black-friday-sale')
    ->expiresAt(now()->parse('2025-12-02 23:59:59'))
    ->resolver(fn($user) => true);

// With BackedEnum
Toggl::define(FeatureFlag::BlackFridaySale)
    ->expiresAt(now()->parse('2025-12-02 23:59:59'))
    ->resolver(fn($user) => true);

// After expiration, the feature returns false regardless of resolver

Using expiresAfter()

Toggl::define('trial-feature')
    ->expiresAfter(days: 30)
    ->resolver(fn($user) => $user->isTrialing());

// Relative expiration
Toggl::define('temporary-access')
    ->expiresAfter(hours: 48)
    ->resolver(fn($user) => true);

Checking Expiration

Is Feature Expired?

if (Toggl::isExpired('black-friday-sale')) {
    // Clean up related code
}

// With BackedEnum
if (Toggl::isExpired(FeatureFlag::BlackFridaySale)) {
    // Clean up related code
}

Get Expiration Date

$expiresAt = Toggl::expiresAt('trial-feature');
// Returns CarbonInterface|null

if ($expiresAt && $expiresAt->isPast()) {
    // Feature has expired
}

// With BackedEnum
$expiresAt = Toggl::expiresAt(FeatureFlag::TrialFeature);

Expiring Soon Warning

// Features expiring within 3 days
$expiring = Toggl::expiringSoon(days: 3);
// Returns array of feature names

// Send alerts
foreach ($expiring as $feature) {
    Log::warning("Feature '{$feature}' expiring soon", [
        'expires_at' => Toggl::expiresAt($feature),
    ]);
}

Automatic Cleanup

Manual Cleanup

// Remove all expired features from storage
Toggl::purge(); // Removes expired features

// Or specific features
Toggl::forget(['old-feature', 'deprecated-feature']);

Scheduled Cleanup

Add to your scheduler in app/Console/Kernel.php:

use Cline\Toggl\Toggl;

protected function schedule(Schedule $schedule): void
{
    // Clean up expired features weekly
    $schedule->call(function () {
        Toggl::purge();
    })->weekly();

    // Warn about expiring features daily
    $schedule->call(function () {
        $expiring = Toggl::expiringSoon(days: 7);

        foreach ($expiring as $feature) {
            Log::warning("Feature expiring soon: {$feature}");
        }
    })->daily();
}

Use Cases

Limited-Time Promotions

Toggl::define('summer-sale-2025')
    ->expiresAt('2025-08-31 23:59:59')
    ->resolver(fn() => true);

if (Toggl::active('summer-sale-2025')) {
    $discount = 0.20; // 20% off
}

Beta Testing Windows

Toggl::define('beta-v2-api')
    ->expiresAfter(days: 90)
    ->resolver(fn($user) => $user->isBetaTester());

// After 90 days, beta access automatically revoked

Temporary Feature Access

Toggl::define('trial-premium-features')
    ->expiresAt($user->trial_ends_at)
    ->resolver(fn($user) => $user->onTrial());

Emergency Toggles

// Quick toggle that auto-expires
Toggl::define('maintenance-bypass')
    ->expiresAfter(hours: 2)
    ->resolver(fn($user) => $user->isAdmin());

// Automatically reverts after 2 hours

Combining with Other Features

Time Bomb + Dependencies

Toggl::define('base-feature', true);

Toggl::define('experimental-addon')
    ->requires('base-feature')
    ->expiresAfter(days: 30)
    ->resolver(fn($user) => true);

Time Bomb + Percentage Rollout

// 10% rollout for 2 weeks
Toggl::define('new-ui-test')
    ->strategy(new PercentageStrategy(10))
    ->expiresAfter(weeks: 2);

Time Bomb + Groups

Toggl::defineGroup('q4-features', [
    'holiday-theme',
    'gift-recommendations',
    'special-pricing',
]);

// All features in group expire together
Toggl::define('holiday-theme')->expiresAt('2025-01-01');
Toggl::define('gift-recommendations')->expiresAt('2025-01-01');
Toggl::define('special-pricing')->expiresAt('2025-01-01');

Best Practices

1. Always set expiration for temporary features

   // ✅ Good
   Toggl::define('experiment')->expiresAfter(days: 30);
   
   // ❌ Avoid - might forget to clean up
   Toggl::define('experiment', true);

2. Monitor expiring features

   // Schedule regular checks
   $expiring = Toggl::expiringSoon(days: 7);
   if (count($expiring) > 0) {
       notify_team($expiring);
   }

3. Document why features expire

   // Clear intent
   Toggl::define('promo-code-double-points')
       ->expiresAt('2025-12-31') // End of promotional period
       ->resolver(fn($user) => true);

Next Steps

• Feature Groups - Managing related features
• Dependencies - Feature requirements
• Advanced Usage - Commands and automation