alfaversioonid

Alfaversioonid are early builds of software released to a restricted audience for testing and feedback. The term is used primarily in software development and comes from the English "alpha version." These builds are typically the first functional releases that implement core features but are not feature-complete or polished. They are often unstable and may include significant known and unknown defects. Access is usually limited to developers, testers, or partners, and installers might require credentials or special installation procedures.

Purpose and practices: Alpha versions aim to validate architecture and core functionality, reveal integration risks, and gather early feedback on design and usability. They precede beta versions, release candidates, and general availability. Development teams may release multiple alphas describing what has changed; alpha cycles are often shorter and more volatile than betas, with rapid iteration and frequent changes.

Relationship to other stages: After alpha, teams move to beta, which broadens testing to external users and stabilizes features. Alpha milestones may focus on performance, APIs, and compatibility, while betas focus on bug fixing and user experience. Some projects distinguish internal alpha builds from external public alphas.

Examples and notes: In open-source projects, alpha releases may appear on project repositories or testing channels; proprietary software often labels unstable early builds as "alpha" for selected customers. Because alphas are not production-ready, they often come with warnings about data loss, compatibility, and support limitations.