Dark launch
Also called: shadow launch
ELI5
Put code into production without making the feature visible.
Used in conversation
“The dark launch tests performance under real traffic.”
Definition
Deployment of functionality without exposing it fully to users, often to test infrastructure or data flows.
Here “Dark launch” means: Deployment of functionality without exposing it fully to users, often to test infrastructure or data flows.
Pitch context
You will see “Dark launch” in product strategy decks, roadmaps, experiments and architecture reviews when the discussion reaches experiments, testing & rollout.
Why it matters: It helps a reader interpret experiments, testing & rollout without confusing the measure, decision, role or evidence being discussed.
Sources & evidence · 2
Supporting source families. This entry is an editorial synthesis rather than a quotation from one canonical glossary.
- Scrum Guides — The Scrum Guide — official current versionSupporting source family · primary · checked 2026-08-16
- National Institute of Standards and Technology — Computer Security Resource Center GlossarySupporting source family · primary · checked 2026-08-16