What does beta mean?

I don't know, we find that we don't often download software There are a lot of software that will have a beta, such as V1.0beta version, in fact, beta refers to the public test, that is, for all users exposed to the beta version. and made some changes to become the official release of the candidate version (now called Rc-release candidate), called Gamma .

As you may have noticed, the software downloaded on the web is often labeled with software version information such as beta and demo versions, which actually have an intrinsic meaning. Below we will introduce some common software version information to you to do a detailed introduction.

　　Alpha (Alpha) version

This version indicates that the software is only a preliminary product, usually communicated only within the software developer, and a small portion is released to professional testers. In general, this version of the Software Bug (vulnerability) More, ordinary users should not install. The main developers themselves to test the product, check whether the product is defective, error, verify the product features and instructions, the user manual is consistent.

　　Beta (Beta) version

This version has been greatly improved relative to the alpha version, eliminating serious errors, but there are still some flaws that need to be further eliminated by large-scale release testing. This version is usually released free of charge by the software company and can be downloaded from the relevant site. Through the testing of some professional enthusiasts, the results are fed back to the developers and the developers make targeted changes. This version is also not suitable for general user installation.

　　Trial (Trial Version)

The beta software has been popular in recent years, mainly thanks to the rapid development of the Internet. This version of the software usually has a time limit, after the expiration of the user if you want to continue to use, generally have to pay a certain fee for registration or purchase. Some of the trial version of the software also has a certain limit on the functionality.

　　Unregistered (unregistered version)

Unregistered version is very similar to the trial version, but the non-registered version usually has no time limit, in the functional relative to the official version of the restrictions, such as the majority of Internet telephony software registration and unregistered version, the quality of the call there is a big gap. There are some although in use with the official version of identical, but will pop up an annoying message box to remind you to register, such as looking at the picture software ACDSee, intelligent Chen Qiao Chinese character input software.

　　Demo version

Also known as the demo version, mainly to demonstrate some of the functions of the formal software, users can learn the basic operation of the software, for the sale of official products to expand the impact. If it is a game, then only one or two levels can be played. This version is also available for free download from the Internet. The demo version only integrates several features in the official version, quite a bit like unregistered (unregistered; unregistered). The difference is that the demo version can not be upgraded or registered by the method to become the official version.

　　Official version

　　The official versions of different types of software are usually also differentiated.

　　Release

This version means "final release", after a series of beta versions, there will eventually be a formal version, for users, the purchase of this version of the software is absolutely not wrong. This version is sometimes referred to as the Standard Edition. In general, release does not appear as a word on the software cover, instead of the symbol ®, such as Windows nt®4.0, ms-dos®6.22, and so on.

　　Registered

Obviously, this version is a registered version of unregistered. The registered version, release and the Standard Edition described below, are the official version of the software, but a large part of the predecessor of the registered software is downloaded from the Internet.

　　Standard

This is the most common Standard Edition, no matter what the software, the standard version must exist. The Standard Edition contains the basic components of the software and some common functions to meet the needs of the general user. The price is "approachable" for a relatively high-level version.

　　Deluxe

As the name implies, "Deluxe Edition". Deluxe Edition is usually relative to the standard version, the main difference is a few more features, the price of course will be higher than a large, not recommended for general users to buy. This version is often intended for professional users who pursue the "perfect".

　　version enhance (enhanced or enhanced version)

If it is general software, commonly called "enhanced version", will add some useful new features. If it is a game, it is generally called "enhanced version", will add some new game scene and game plot and so on. This is the official release.

　　Reference

This version of the model is common in the encyclopedia, the more famous is the Microsoft Encarta Series. Reference is the highest level, it contains themes, images, movie clips and so on the standard and the deluxe version has a significant increase in capacity from a CD to three discs, and added a strong interactive function, of course, the price is not cheap. It can be said that this version of the encyclopedia can be regarded as a true encyclopedia, but also the first choice of enthusiasts collection.

　　Professional (Professional Edition)

The Professional edition is for some specific development tool software. Many of the content in the Pro Edition is not available in the Standard Edition, which is extremely important for a professional software developer. Microsoft's Visual FoxPro Standard Edition does not have the ability to compile executable files, which is obviously intolerable for a complete development project if no FoxPro is available on the client. If you use the Pro version there is no problem.

　　Enterprise (Corporate Edition)

Enterprise Edition is the best in development software (equivalent to the reference version in the encyclopedia). Having a set of this version of the software can develop any level of application without any obstacles. The famous Visual C + + Enterprise Edition adds several additional features to the Professional edition, such as SQL debugging, extended stored procedure wizards, support for as/400 access to OLE DB, and more. And this version of the price is not acceptable to ordinary users.

such as Microsoft's Visual Studios 6.0 Enterprise Chinese version of the price of 23000 yuan.

　　Ultimate (Ultimate Edition also known as flagship edition)

It is 1 in terms of English literal meaning. Finally, the final 2. Basic, Fundamental 3. The biggest, the limit degree meaning, the version named with Ultimate has the most powerful, the most complete function, the best stability and so on excellent characteristic, and compared with the similar software, has integrated all functions and has some special service provision. Ultimate designed for the user of the Ashes level, to perfect, perfect, for the purpose. It is also a version of many users, of course, the price is the highest.