From Code to Citizen: Streamlining Feature Approval in Government Apps

At Button, we’re on a mission to redefine the process of digital application development for government services. We've always believed in the power of thoughtful, citizen-focused design, and now we’re taking it a step further.

By applying smarter technology to key points in the development process, we're ensuring that each application is more precise, more accurate, and easier for product owners to manage.

We’ve spoken before about the importance of putting citizens at the heart of government services. After all, great digital experiences start with solid service design—carefully crafted roadmaps, user journeys, wireframes, and business processes all come together in a well-designed application.

But there’s one part of the development process that we believe doesn’t get enough attention: the final approval stage, where a product owner gives the green light to features before they go live.

Bridging the Gap Between Code and Features  

For many government project leads, the world of code can be overwhelming. Often, those in charge of approving new features are not developers but passionate product owners with a deep understanding of the service they’re bringing to life. This means the approval process can sometimes feel a bit disconnected from the actual technical changes happening in the application.

At Button, we believe in making this process as clear and simple as possible. We set up clear, structured communication between developers and product owners so everyone stays aligned and confident in what’s being delivered.

Every time a developer finishes a feature, we make sure the product owner can easily:

- Spot unintended “regressions” that might alter the look and feel of the application.

- Identify any new changes or additions made by the latest code.

- Ensure that all updates maintain a consistent, accessible user experience across the platform.

- Use an easy-to-navigate “clicky button” to approve or reject features, with full transparency into decisions made and changes introduced.

How to Set Up Your Feature Approval Process  

It’s simple: to ensure quality and accuracy, we help teams establish clear agreements from the start.

1. Team Agreements: First, we define the approval process. Does the team approve features at the end of each sprint, or continuously as they’re ready? This becomes your “definition of done,” a shared understanding of what it means for work to be complete.

2. Continuous Integration: Consistency is key. We ensure each feature is thoroughly tested before deployment by running automated tests with every code push. This keeps the codebase stable, identifying issues early and avoiding last-minute surprises.

A Smarter Way to Approve Features  

To make feature approvals faster and more accurate, we leverage technology to capture every detail. With tools like Happo, we can automatically track before-and-after snapshots of UI components, making it easy to spot even the smallest visual differences.

Here’s how it works in practice:  

- When a developer updates the user interface, they push the code into GitHub.

- Happo automatically generates before-and-after screenshots of the UI changes.

- The product owner reviews the differences, marking intentional changes or rejecting unwanted ones.

- Unapproved features are sent back for fixes, while successful ones are merged into the app.

This process ensures that even the tiniest details, like a misaligned button or an error message that doesn’t trigger correctly, are caught and corrected before they impact the final user experience.

Continuous Improvement, One Review at a Time  

Each approval process provides valuable insights for improvement. The more we refine our approach, the more seamless the process becomes for future projects. By learning from each review, we continue to raise the bar for digital service delivery in government.

At Button, we’re always working to make sure our technology—and the way we use it—supports the best outcomes for the citizens we serve. We believe in making the development process more transparent, more reliable, and ultimately, more effective for everyone involved.

Looking for the right partners in turning your program vision into a development reality? At Button, we're continuing to refine our processes and improve the way we build technology that works for everyone. We’re always here to help. Let’s chat.