With each new release, PrestaShop not only seeks to improve its existing capabilities but also to offer users access to new, yet undeveloped features. In PrestaShop 8.0, we encounter a novel approach called "New and Experimental Features," which allows early users to test upcoming improvements before their official release. But what are these features, why were they added, and why are they necessary?
What Are Experimental Features?
Experimental features are a set of capabilities under development by the PrestaShop team and are not yet fully tested. They can be enabled in the admin panel, offering users the chance to try out new tools in the early stages of development. This mechanism is often referred to as "feature flags" — switches to activate or deactivate functionality.
Who Are They For?
Primarily, experimental features are intended for experienced and adventurous users who want to help developers improve the product by testing it in a live environment. However, it’s important to be aware of the risks: since these features are still in development, they may behave unpredictably, potentially causing crashes or data loss. Therefore, it’s strongly recommended that experimental features are not used on live production sites.
How to Enable Experimental Features?
To enable an experimental feature in PrestaShop, navigate to Advanced Parameters > New & Experimental Features in the admin panel. For example, the "experimental product page" is available in PrestaShop 1.7.8, offering improved performance and new combination management tools. However, since it’s still a work in progress, some features may be unavailable or unstable.
Why Did PrestaShop Add This Mechanism?
Introducing experimental features is a strategic move aimed at improving the development process and final product quality. This concept allows PrestaShop to address several goals at once:
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Testing on real data. Despite rigorous internal testing, real-world data and diverse scenarios can lead to different results. Experimental features help gather valuable user feedback, making testing more accurate.
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Community feedback. PrestaShop has a large, active community, and this platform allows users to influence the final product by providing their comments and suggestions at early stages of development.
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Flexibility and fast deployment. With feature flags, developers can introduce new features more quickly and assess their popularity and stability without requiring a full release. This also helps avoid major platform-wide disruptions.
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Constant innovation. Experimental features enable PrestaShop to stay aligned with current e-commerce trends and rapidly evolve.
Why Are Experiments Important for Live Testing?
The concept of "live testing" involves testing new capabilities in a real environment but not on a large scale. This allows engaged users, who are willing to take risks, to identify weak points in new features and provide developers with valuable insights. In the long run, this helps make the platform more stable and useful for all users.
Experiments on live sites serve as a testing ground where the product can be seen in action and adjusted to meet the real business needs. This approach gives PrestaShop the freedom not only to add new features but also to experiment with solutions, making the platform more adaptive to future challenges and market needs.
Experimental features in PrestaShop are an exciting tool for those who want to stay ahead of the platform's development and contribute to product improvement. Despite the potential risks, these opportunities allow users to be the first to test new features and provide feedback to developers.
Share your thoughts in the comments! Are you excited about testing new features this way?
