Say it like this
- We're in feature freeze until release
- Feature freeze starts tomorrow
- After feature freeze, we focus on bugs
Use it at work
Announcing
- Feature freeze is next Monday. Only bug fixes after that.
- After feature freeze, we focus on stability.
Asking for an exception
- Can this small feature go in before feature freeze?
- This is a fix, not a feature, so it's OK after the freeze.
Planning
- Let's plan the big features before feature freeze.
- We'll lift the feature freeze after the release.
Don't say this
Feature freeze applies to new features, not to bug fixes. You do not freeze individual bugs.
Don't mix it up
| Term | What it is | Who writes or uses it | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| feature freeze | No new features, fixes OK | Product, engineering | Before a release |
| code freeze | No code changes at all | Engineering | Right before release |
| change freeze | No changes to production | Ops | Holidays, big events |
Practice
Try it
4 quick exercises
1. Your manager tells the team that new features must wait. How do you report this?
2. Once we _______ next month, all effort will shift to testing and bug fixes.
3. Which sentence uses feature freeze incorrectly?
4. Rewrite using feature freeze: 'Starting next week, we will stop accepting new features and focus on making the existing ones work well.'
Say it out loud
Phrase 1 of 3
"We're in feature freeze until release"
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More about feature freeze
Real examples(3)
- in a standup
"Since we entered feature freeze last week, we're only accepting critical bug fixes."
- in a planning meeting
"We need to decide which features make it into version 3.0 before feature freeze on Friday."
- in an email
"Feature freeze is now in effect. Please submit any remaining work to the staging branch by EOD today."
More mistakes(2)
Handle with care. Often confused with code freeze. A feature freeze stops new features only, while code freeze prevents all code changes. Do not use interchangeably.
- ✕Feature freeze means we stop all coding.✓Feature freeze means we stop adding new features but continue fixing bugs.
Development and bug fixes continue during a feature freeze. A full code freeze is more restrictive.
- ✕The feature freeze will be next release.✓The feature freeze will happen next week, before release.
Feature freeze occurs before release, not at release time. It is a preparation step.
Other forms(2)
- feature freeze noun
"Our feature freeze begins on January 15th."
- to feature freeze (or enter a feature freeze) verb
"We will feature freeze the application next sprint."
Often used with(4)
- enter feature freeze · To start a feature freeze; commonly used when the period begins
- during feature freeze · Describes activities that happen while a feature freeze is in effect
- lift feature freeze · To end a feature freeze and resume accepting new features
- feature freeze date · The specific day or deadline when a feature freeze begins
Similar words(2)
- feature lock · Less common than feature freeze but means the same thing
- feature cutoff · Emphasizes the deadline aspect; similar meaning but slightly more formal
Opposites(2)
- feature development
- open development
Questions(5)
- What does feature freeze mean in software engineering?
- A feature freeze is a point in the development cycle when the team stops accepting new features and focuses on stabilizing, testing, and fixing bugs in existing features before release. It is a standard practice to ensure product quality.
- How long does a feature freeze typically last?
- A feature freeze usually lasts from a few weeks to a month before the official release, depending on the size of the project and the number of known issues. After release, the feature freeze is lifted and normal development resumes.
- Is feature freeze the same as code freeze?
- No. A feature freeze stops new features but allows bug fixes. A code freeze, which comes later, is more restrictive and prevents almost all code changes, including some bug fixes.
- What happens to bug reports during feature freeze?
- Critical bugs are still fixed during feature freeze. Minor bugs and enhancement requests are typically deferred to the next release cycle to avoid destabilizing the product near launch.
- How do you use feature freeze in a sentence at work?
- You might say, 'We are in feature freeze, so please submit any remaining features by Friday,' or 'During feature freeze, only critical bug fixes are accepted.'
