diff --git a/lib/launcher.js b/lib/launcher.js
index 2d0824e..a6ec980 100644
--- a/lib/launcher.js
+++ b/lib/launcher.js
@@ -62,6 +62,14 @@ class Launcher {
         debug(`Updating package.json: ${this.files.packageJSON}`)
         const packageData = JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(packageJSONTemplate))
         packageData.dependencies = JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(this.snapshot.modules))
+        // if we are working in a development env and the project nodes src is available in the right place,
+        // then use the development version of the project nodes
+        if (packageData.dependencies?.['@flowfuse/nr-project-nodes'] && process.env.NODE_ENV === 'development') {
+            const devPath = path.join(__dirname, '..', '..', 'nr-project-nodes')
+            if (existsSync(devPath)) {
+                packageData.dependencies['@flowfuse/nr-project-nodes'] = `file:${devPath}`
+            }
+        }
         packageData.version = `0.0.0-${this.snapshot.id}`
         packageData.name = this.snapshot.env.FF_PROJECT_NAME
         if (this.snapshot.name && this.snapshot.description) {
@@ -165,12 +173,19 @@ class Launcher {
         if (this.config.brokerUsername) {
             // Parse the teamID out of the brokerUsername
             teamID = this.config.brokerUsername.split(':')[1]
+            // Determine if projectLink is enabled (default to true if not set in settings for backwards compatibility)
+            const enabled = !!(this.settings?.features ? this.settings.features.projectComms : true)
             projectLink = {
+                featureEnabled: enabled,
+                // always include the token to permit project enumeration in the project nodes.
+                // This permits the node to be usable/discoverable but no comms will
+                // be possible due to the feature being disabled and the broker url/user/pass being empty.
+                // The project nodes will inform the user of the need to enable or upgrade.
                 token: this.config.token,
                 broker: {
-                    url: this.config.brokerURL,
-                    username: this.config.brokerUsername,
-                    password: this.config.brokerPassword
+                    url: enabled ? this.config.brokerURL : '',
+                    username: enabled ? this.config.brokerUsername : '',
+                    password: enabled ? this.config.brokerPassword : ''
                 }
             }
         }
@@ -214,7 +229,8 @@ class Launcher {
         }
 
         // if licensed, add shared library config
-        if (this.config.licensed) {
+        const libraryEnabled = this.settings?.features ? this.settings.features['shared-library'] : false
+        if (libraryEnabled && this.config.licensed) {
             settings.nodesDir = [
                 path.join(__dirname, 'plugins', 'node_modules', '@flowforge', 'flowforge-library-plugin')
             ]
diff --git a/test/unit/lib/launcher_spec.js b/test/unit/lib/launcher_spec.js
index 7688b6f..fad73c9 100644
--- a/test/unit/lib/launcher_spec.js
+++ b/test/unit/lib/launcher_spec.js
@@ -93,11 +93,39 @@ describe('Launcher', function () {
         settings.flowforge.should.have.property('projectID', 'PROJECTID')
         settings.flowforge.should.have.property('projectLink')
         settings.flowforge.should.have.property('teamID', 'TEAMID')
+        // by default, since the feature flag is not set, it should be true.
+        // This is for backwards compatibility where a Node-RED instance has the nodes in their flows
+        // but the feature flag is not present in the settings.
+        settings.flowforge.projectLink.should.have.property('featureEnabled', true)
         settings.flowforge.projectLink.should.have.property('broker')
         settings.flowforge.projectLink.broker.should.have.property('url', 'BURL')
         settings.flowforge.projectLink.broker.should.have.property('username', 'BUSER:TEAMID:deviceid')
         settings.flowforge.projectLink.broker.should.have.property('password', 'BPASS')
     })
+    it('Write Settings - with broker and feature flag `projectComms` false', async function () {
+        const launcher = newLauncher({
+            config: {
+                ...config,
+                brokerURL: 'BURL',
+                brokerUsername: 'BUSER:TEAMID:deviceid',
+                brokerPassword: 'BPASS'
+            }
+        }, null, 'PROJECTID', setup.snapshot, { features: { projectComms: false } })
+        await launcher.writeSettings()
+        const setFile = await fs.readFile(path.join(config.dir, 'project', 'settings.json'))
+        const settings = JSON.parse(setFile)
+        settings.should.have.property('port', 1880)
+        settings.should.have.property('credentialSecret', 'secret')
+        settings.should.have.property('flowforge')
+        settings.flowforge.should.have.property('projectID', 'PROJECTID')
+        settings.flowforge.should.have.property('projectLink')
+        settings.flowforge.should.have.property('teamID', 'TEAMID')
+        settings.flowforge.projectLink.should.have.property('featureEnabled', false) // explicitly disabled
+        settings.flowforge.projectLink.should.have.property('broker')
+        settings.flowforge.projectLink.broker.should.have.property('url', '') // should be set to empty string
+        settings.flowforge.projectLink.broker.should.have.property('username', '') // should be set to empty string
+        settings.flowforge.projectLink.broker.should.have.property('password', '') // should be set to empty string
+    })
 
     it('Write package.json', async function () {
         const launcher = newLauncher({ config }, null, 'projectId', setup.snapshot)