the different?

[The-Rave]

Just asking, what the different in Alpha, Beta, and Release Candidate (RC) version?

 

[scorpion182]

Programs that are in an early stage are often called "alpha" software. After they mature but are not yet ready for release, they may be called "beta" software. Software packages which are soon to be released as a particular version may carry that version tag followed by "rc-#", indicating the number of the release candidate. When the version is actually released, the "rc" tag disappears. Generally alpha software is tested by developers only, while beta software is distributed for community testing.

 

[Deleted member 157129]

Yeah; like Scorpion said:

- Alpha is generally a very basic version of the full program, technically anything that can be tested, and should be tested, by the development team for major mistakes is an alpha. Alpha versions are generated for as long as the software is not finished. If all you got is a GUI, for example, that is an alpha version - you want to test if the GUI works; do you get to the correct sub-menues, etc.

- Beta is mostly a pretty much finished (as in it's working) version that requires bug testing, stress testing, etc. These are tests that for the most part require a lot of people on a lot of different systems, thus a group of dedicated testers are invited to try out the software and help the development polish everything and catch at least the most evident bugs before release.

- A release candidate is a release that is not public, but given to select customers. This is to have a final, general usage test before the public release in case more bugs should surface. You could consider it a trial.

 

[Tleno]

Simpler explanation:
-Alpha is just a working but unfinished version
-Beta is completely finished but need tweaking