prestable

Prestable is a term used in software development to describe a release state that precedes a stable version. The word combines pre- (before) and stable, signaling that the build is not yet stable but is expected to reach stability with further testing and fixes. Prestable builds are typically made available to testers, developers, or early adopters under explicit caveats and are generally unsuitable for production use.

Usage and characteristics

Prestable releases are often used to gather feedback on new features, performance implications, and compatibility before the final release. They may include known issues, rough edges, or incomplete documentation, and API interfaces can still change. The goal is to identify remaining defects, regressions, and integration problems in diverse environments, enabling rapid iteration toward a stable release.

Relationship to other release stages

Terminology varies by project, but prestable commonly sits between earlier development stages (such as alpha) and more mature stages (such as beta or release candidate). Some teams use prestable interchangeably with late-beta or near-final builds, while others reserve prestable for a distinct pre-stability phase that precedes a formal release.

Best practices

Projects labeling prestable builds should publish clear release notes, known issues, and testing scope. Provide instructions for testing and environment requirements, establish a rollback plan, and maintain a transparent issue tracker. Collect feedback systematically and set expectations about stability goals, timelines, and upgrade paths.

See also

Stable release, Pre-release, Beta, Alpha, Release candidate, Software testing.