Help please

[in a mo]

In Computers what is BETA and why is this listed seperatly from other download/programmes.

Thank you

[Huderon]

It's a work in progress, an almost-but-not-quite finished program..

It refers to a program which is working well, but isn't finished and which may well still have bugs in it or which will have a further revamp before being released as a full version. Betas will be available for people to download and run in the hope that anyone using it will send in reports about any problems or bugs found so that they can be corrected before the program is officially released.

Some code can be so complex that it needs a lot of testing. And with so many different combinations of kit and software on computers, releasing a beta gives you the chance to get your code tested on a lot of different setups, and increases the chances of any problems with the code being found.

And now, someone else will be along shortly to give you a much better explanation !

[Squitty]

these were some detailed answers when this was posted before

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Technology/Prev iew/Question672993.html

[beso]

A beta is an advanced test version of a program that is released to the public. If the wide spread testing does not cause too many problems it eventually becomes the mainstream release.

Prior to the beta, a number of "release candidates" are usually sent to a core group of dedicated users. The best version then becomes a beta release.

[rojash]

The release candidates come AFTER the beta, and until recently, Beta versions were released only to selected testers, not to the general public. Unfortunately MS decided recently that not only could anyone have a Beta version, but that they wouldn't bother to make the difference clear. Hence all the poor sods who've been installing the IE8 Beta without ever realizing that it wasn't a finished product.

[ACtheTROLL]

in a nutshell
if you don't know what it is STAY AWAY FROM BETA software

it's like a pitbull - it shouldn't ever be loaded onto a machine that matters - because you just don't know if - or when it's going to bite you

however "perfect" the code is ... it's still a beta ... so you will have to swap it for the release version come what may.
developers aren't stupid - they always build in some limitation that means the beta will expire

and often he uninstall doesn't work either ... so it goes in ... but won't come out - or leaves bad code that stops you "downgrading" to a propper working release

beta software is (or should) be used by anoraks, ABers, people in the game and software developers to evaluate test and develop their own add ons -

oh .... and idiots ... because while they have no idea what the implications are - they heard on facebook that one has to have the latest version of whatever.... just because...