Remember, Remember the 8th of November

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Remember, Remember the 8th of November

• Wikipedia, www.winsupersite.com

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How major software is made
Pre-Alpha
Alpha
Beta
Release Canidate (gamma/delta)
RTM
RTC
Patch
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Pre-Alpha

• Not feature complete
• Determining what functionality the product should
  have
• Different not all software has such a stage

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Alpha

• Needs to be debugged
• Does not contain all the functionality
• The basic structure of the software is complete
• Some White Box testing is done
• Some Black Box testing is done

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Beta

• First version of the software that implements all
  features
• Unstable bust useful for demos and previews
• Developers will announce a feature freeze

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Release Candidate (gamma / delta)

• Final product if no fatal bugs emerge
• Big bugs are called show stoppers
• Normally freely available to the public
• Why free, Why do this step?

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RTM / Gold Build

• Release to Manufacture
• Software is burnt to CD/DVD and delivered to the
  manufacturer
• Why called Gold build?

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RTC

• Release to Consumer
• When you can actually go to the store and buy it
• Why not the same as RTM?

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Windows Vista Timeline

• Beta 1 July 27, 2005
• Beta 2 May 18, 2006
• RC1 Sept 1, 2006
• RC2 Oct 6, 2006
• RTM Nov 8, 2006
• RTC Jan 30, 2007