I hereby respectfully ask veteran coders in the house. Would it be possible to build a function into a web app in such a way that it wont be revealed i.e. readily accessible until much later i.e. already coded as part of the source code of a website or mobile app, a feature is built into the source code land page but is not visibly accessible until the coder decide to make it available for its users to make use of.

Example, we all know Nairaland doesn’t have a chat function or dislike button, two features which can be build into it anytime but let’s assume it has already been part of it from inception but was decided to be unlock or made available now. That’s the question I’m asking.

Lalasticlala

y3mi:
I hereby respectfully ask veteran coders in the house. Would it be possible to build a function into a web app in such a way that it wont be revealed i.e. readily accessible until much later i.e. already coded as part of the source code of a website or mobile app, a feature is built into the source code land page but is not visibly accessible until the coder decide to make it available for its users to make use of.

Example, we all know Nairaland doesn’t have a chat function or dislike button, two features which can be build into it anytime but let’s assume it has already been part of it from inception but was decided to be unlock or made available now. That’s the question I’m asking.

Lalasticlala

Yes it's possible, it's not as complex , it's the same as just not showing it, displaying it, or adding it to the DOM Tree

qtguru:


Yes it's possible, it's not as complex , it's the same as just not showing it, displaying it, or adding it to the DOM Tree

Thanks for the answer.
I’ll appreciate elaborate answers.

y3mi:

Thanks for the answer.
I’ll appreciate elaborate answers.

It doesn't get anymore elaborate than that. Just like nairaland has moderation features that are not accessible to users that are not moderators, you can add a feature to a web app that's not accessible to users by simply restricting it with conditions or not displaying it.

Hmm.


Isn't this like programming 101?




To give simple diplomatic answer the always tire me.


To call u coconut head the hungry me

losprince:

It doesn't get anymore elaborate than that. Just like nairaland has moderation features that are not accessible to users that are not moderators, you can add a feature to a web app that's not accessible to users by simply restricting it with conditions or not displaying it.

I appreciate you referencing the moderating functions of Nairaland as been only available to users whose privilege has been upgraded to moderator status.

So therefore, if a particular function can be coded as an integral part of a web/mobile app source code, no matter how complex, it can at any point in time be manipulated with codes to remain inaccessible to its users.

Is this more of a front-end or back-end work process, perhaps both ?

y3mi:
I hereby respectfully ask veteran coders in the house. Would it be possible to build a function into a web app in such a way that it wont be revealed i.e. readily accessible until much later i.e. already coded as part of the source code of a website or mobile app, a feature is built into the source code land page but is not visibly accessible until the coder decide to make it available for its users to make use of.

Example, we all know Nairaland doesn’t have a chat function or dislike button, two features which can be build into it anytime but let’s assume it has already been part of it from inception but was decided to be unlock or made available now. That’s the question I’m asking.

Lalasticlala

Yes, very possible, especially when your source code follows the clean architecture( a more professional way of organising code), with this you can easily port functions on and off as desired.

y3mi:

I appreciate you referencing the moderating functions of Nairaland as been only available to users whose privilege has been upgraded to moderator status.

So therefore, if a particular function can be coded as an integral part of a web/mobile app source code, no matter how complex, it can at any point in time be manipulated with codes to remain inaccessible to its users.

Is this more of a front-end or back-end work process, perhaps both ?

Yes it can, and it can be done with either the back-end or front-end. Hiding a feature from users is a very easy thing to do.