What is the beta version?

and Beta release is a new version of the software program that has not yet been fully tested for errors. Once it is tested on the satisfaction of the writer, owner or organization, it is released as the latest stable version of the software. At this point, the software will move from "version 4.0b" (for beta ) to "version 4.0". It can also work under the name of the code while in beta. Open editions are usually available to the general public for download and testing. Closed beta is only available to a specific Beta Tester group.

Many computer enthusiasts enjoy beta testers and often subscribe to e -mail lists with software companies. The advantage for the software company is that the release can be tested on the basis of many real world users, each using unique computer systems with a range of hardware and software. If there are conflicts with other programs or hardware, beta should test most of them.

Since the beta version does notIt has been fully tested for errors, it comes to a warning that anyone who downloads and uses is at their own risk. When testing the latest release of the program that already exists on the computer, some testers decide to load the release of beta into their own folder. In this way, if this causes problems and must be uninstalled, it will not damage the already existing program.

The disadvantage of testing the beta version is that the personal configuration or user files from the full release is not transmitted to the installation. If the installation process has a built -in return option, this should always be sufficient, even if backup of important files is always recommended.

This version falls somewhere along the home section of the software development cycle. The first comes the pre-alpha phase , including the opposite of CTUAL functions and overall coding. Once the software is compiled and ready for internal testing, it isIn the alpha phase . Only after the internal testing is completed, the software will move to the beta release ; Finally, the third and final phases will be achieved by eating stable .