I do agree that beta releases are a good idea, so new users can safely install a slightly older and stable version. This will ease the way for new and inexperienced users. Currently, even some of the older releases do have some quirks (if I remember correctly), but once the release schedule is on track we will always have a "latest stable" release to recommend to new users. I would propose a month of prior notice for a beta release, and a month of beta testing. This admittedly slows down the release cycle, but will allow everyone ample time to finish and test the releases. So, as an example, we could say: (sometime this week, continuing until May 1st) Csound 5.09 "alpha versions for different platforms as the become ready" (May 1st) Csound 5.09 "beta release for all platforms, all at the same time" (June 1st) Csound 5.09 official release Meanwhile, work on 5.10 will most probably continue on the side of the release schedule. Is this going to create a lot of trouble with CVS forking and things like that ? Sorry if there are issues involved that I do not understand fully. The result of my proposition will create a time lag of 2 months for new features (from initial implementation until official release), but hey, it's only 2 months ... and meanwhile the official Csound release can be stable and predictable for all platforms. best Oeyvind 2008/3/24, Michael Gogins : > The beta was valuable in my view, but it did not last long enough. More timer for user feedback, i.e. a month or so, would have been much more useful. After all, the only real reason for a beta release is just that: get it out to users and use their feedback to get rid of bugs. > > Regards, > Mike > > > -----Original Message----- > >From: jpff > >Sent: Mar 24, 2008 3:57 AM > >To: Developer discussions > >Cc: csound-devel@lists.sourceforge.net > >Subject: Re: [Cs-dev] sourceforge Downloads info > > > >In this case the Linux beta installer had a serious problem, which was > >not noticed until the real release. From my pov the beta achieved > >noting but additional work. > >==John ffitch > > > >------------------------------------------------------------------------- > >This SF.net email is sponsored by: Microsoft > >Defy all challenges. Microsoft(R) Visual Studio 2008. > >http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/vse0120000070mrt/direct/01/ > >_______________________________________________ > >Csound-devel mailing list > >Csound-devel@lists.sourceforge.net > >https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/csound-devel > > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------- > This SF.net email is sponsored by: Microsoft > Defy all challenges. Microsoft(R) Visual Studio 2008. > http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/vse0120000070mrt/direct/01/ > _______________________________________________ > Csound-devel mailing list > Csound-devel@lists.sourceforge.net > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/csound-devel > ------------------------------------------------------------------------- This SF.net email is sponsored by: Microsoft Defy all challenges. Microsoft(R) Visual Studio 2008. http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/vse0120000070mrt/direct/01/ _______________________________________________ Csound-devel mailing list Csound-devel@lists.sourceforge.net