define a new EXPERIMENTAL flag for default-disabled features

package.json

@@ -3,11 +3,11 @@
   "version": "1.0.0",
   "description": "3D model database and content management system with integrated annotations and stories 3D editor",
   "scripts": {
-    "start": "cd source/server/ && npm start",
+    "start": "cd source/server/ && EXPERIMENTAL=1 npm start",
     "test": "cd source/server/ && npm test",
     "build-ui": "cd source/ui && webpack --mode=production",
     "build-server": "tsc -b source/server",
-    "watch": "cd source/server && HOT_RELOAD=1 NODE_ENV=development ROOT_DIR=\"../../\" nodemon -e ts,js -w . -w ../ui/webpack.config.js -x ts-node index.ts"
+    "watch": "cd source/server && HOT_RELOAD=1 NODE_ENV=development EXPERIMENTAL=1 ROOT_DIR=\"../../\" nodemon -e ts,js -w . -w ../ui/webpack.config.js -x ts-node index.ts"
   },
   "author": "Holusion <[email protected]>",
   "license": "Apache-2.0",

source/server/utils/config.ts

@@ -21,8 +21,9 @@ const values = {
   smart_host: ["smtp://localhost", toString],
   verbose: [false, toBool],
 
+  experimental: [false, toBool],
   /// FEATURE FLAGS ///
-  enable_document_merge: [false, toBool],
+  enable_document_merge: [isExperimental, toBool],
 
 } as const;
 
@@ -55,6 +56,13 @@ function toBool(s:string):boolean{
   return !(!s || s.toLowerCase() === "false" || s == "0");
 }
 
+/**
+ * used to default a value to "false", unless EXPERIMENTAL flag is set
+ */
+function isExperimental({experimental}: {experimental: boolean}) :boolean{
+  return experimental;
+}
+
 /**
  * Parses a set of environment variables into a configuration object
  */