For
years, before the internet became truly mainstream, beta software was shrouded
in a cloak of mystery. Copies of software would often circulate on private
servers or on CD-ROMs or DVDs but the advent of cheap, fast connectivity and
the prevalence of software-as-a-service has changed that.
Now
allowing more people to test an application at an earlier stage in its
development seems to have become a de-facto step, allowing for a more
transparent and open process that is often used to evangelise and build
momentum towards the final launch of the said software.
The
best case study is probably that of Windows
10 whereby
Microsoft enrolled millions of users eager to try their hands at the latest
version of the company's operating system.
These
early adopters provided Microsoft with tons of feedback either directly or
indirectly (using telemetry) and highlighted the importance of a successful
so-called Alpha/Beta program.
Should
you want to join this growing army of anonymous software developers' lil'
helpers, here's a list of some of the best-known alpha, beta or nightly builds.
Note:
We deliberately kept games, non-Windows and mobile applications off the radar
as it would have been too much of a task. Also bear in mind that this is
development, bleeding edge software.
Expect
them to crash, produce errors or spit out any sort of random message box at any
moment. Should this happen and should your computer explode (or any other
similar mishap), we cannot be held responsible. You are installing these
applications at your own risk.
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