scripts/startup/bl_ui/space_node.py

@@ -974,6 +974,9 @@ class NODE_PT_socket_panels(Panel):
 
     @classmethod
     def poll(cls, context):
+        if not context.preferences.experimental.use_node_panels:
+            return False
+
         snode = context.space_data
         if snode is None:
             return False

scripts/startup/bl_ui/space_userpref.py

@@ -2410,6 +2410,7 @@ class USERPREF_PT_experimental_new_features(ExperimentalPanel, Panel):
                  ("blender/blender/projects/10", "Pipeline, Assets & IO Project Page")),
                 ({"property": "use_override_templates"}, ("blender/blender/issues/73318", "Milestone 4")),
                 ({"property": "use_new_volume_nodes"}, ("blender/blender/issues/103248", "#103248")),
+                ({"property": "use_node_panels"}, ("blender/blender/issues/105248", "#105248")),
             ),
         )
 

source/blender/blenkernel/intern/node.cc

@@ -3701,6 +3701,10 @@ bNodeSocket *ntreeFindSocketInterface(bNodeTree *ntree,
 
 void ntreeEnsureSocketInterfacePanelOrder(bNodeTree *ntree)
 {
+  if (!U.experimental.use_node_panels) {
+    return;
+  }
+
   /* Store panel index for sorting. */
   blender::Map<const bNodePanel *, int> panel_index_map;
   int index = 0;

source/blender/editors/space_node/drawnode.cc

@@ -1481,7 +1481,9 @@ static void std_node_socket_interface_draw(bContext * /*C*/, uiLayout *layout, P
     uiItemR(col, ptr, "hide_in_modifier", DEFAULT_FLAGS, nullptr, 0);
   }
 
-  uiItemPointerR(col, ptr, "panel", &tree_ptr, "socket_panels", nullptr, 0);
+  if (U.experimental.use_node_panels) {
+    uiItemPointerR(col, ptr, "socket_panel", &tree_ptr, "panels", nullptr, 0);
+  }
 }
 
 static void node_socket_virtual_draw_color(bContext * /*C*/,

source/blender/makesdna/DNA_userdef_types.h

@@ -680,7 +680,8 @@ typedef struct UserDef_Experimental {
   char enable_overlay_next;
   char enable_workbench_next;
   char use_new_volume_nodes;
-  char _pad[4];
+  char use_node_panels;
+  char _pad[3];
   /** `makesdna` does not allow empty structs. */
 } UserDef_Experimental;
 

source/blender/makesrna/intern/rna_userdef.c

@@ -6742,6 +6742,10 @@ static void rna_def_userdef_experimental(BlenderRNA *brna)
   prop = RNA_def_property(srna, "use_new_volume_nodes", PROP_BOOLEAN, PROP_NONE);
   RNA_def_property_ui_text(
       prop, "New Volume Nodes", "Enables visibility of the new Volume nodes in the UI");
+
+  prop = RNA_def_property(srna, "use_node_panels", PROP_BOOLEAN, PROP_NONE);
+  RNA_def_property_ui_text(
+      prop, "Node Panels", "Enable node panels UI for grouping sockets in node groups");
 }
 
 static void rna_def_userdef_addon_collection(BlenderRNA *brna, PropertyRNA *cprop)