# Vercel Flags starts 7x faster and no longer extends function duration

Source: [Vercel](https://vercel.com/changelog/vercel-flags-starts-7x-faster-and-no-longer-extends-function-duration)  
Feed7 permalink: https://feed7.dev/p/vercel-flags-starts-7x-faster-and-no-longer-extends-function-duration-1t46aej  
Published: 2026-10-29T06:00:00.000Z  
Trust: Official Source (official_source)

## Why Included

Vercel Flags 1.5.3 cuts internal-test p75 cold-start initialization from over 70 ms to 10 ms and stops usage reporting from extending function duration.

## Source Summary

The SDK now reads bundled flag data and checks its revision without a network request. In internal testing, p75 cold-start initialization fell from **over 70 ms to 10 ms**; p99 flag reads are **under 1 ms**. Usage reporting no longer keeps a function running after its response.

## Practical Implication

If you use Vercel Flags, update `@flags-sdk/vercel` to **1.5.3 or later** and redeploy to get the changes.

## Agent-Ready Context

The SDK now reads bundled flag data and checks its revision without a network request. In internal testing, p75 cold-start initialization fell from **over 70 ms to 10 ms**; p99 flag reads are **under 1 ms**. Usage reporting no longer keeps a function running after its response.

If you use Vercel Flags, update `@flags-sdk/vercel` to **1.5.3 or later** and redeploy to get the changes.

The initialization figures come from internal testing; the material does not give a workload or methodology for comparing them with other setups.

## Connected Context

Feed7 judgment across 966 accumulated Signals:

This reports lower Flags initialization latency from bundled data and revision checks, plus usage reporting that no longer extends function duration. The p75 figures are internal; the source gives no workload or cross-setup comparison, so the gains are specific to the stated SDK behavior.

- [Flags SDK now evaluates flags 10x faster](https://feed7.dev/p/flags-sdk-now-evaluates-flags-10x-faster-0ja3slo) — Both report Flags SDK performance improvements, but this change targets initialization and function duration while the candidate targets batch evaluation overhead; the gains describe separate operations.
- [Vercel Sandbox routing is now 18x faster globally](https://feed7.dev/p/vercel-sandbox-routing-is-now-18x-faster-globally-1xr4uw7) — Both are narrow latency improvements in Vercel infrastructure; this concerns SDK initialization and reporting, while the candidate concerns sandbox domain lookup, so neither establishes broader end-to-end speed.

## Context Map

- Layer: infra
- Domains: coding
- Topics: None

## Uncertainty

- The initialization figures come from internal testing; the material does not give a workload or methodology for comparing them with other setups.

## Agent Instruction

Use this item as source-backed context. Do not invent claims beyond the linked source. If this item conflicts with another source, call out the conflict.