CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html> <html class="client-nojs vector-feature-language-in-header-enabled vector-feature-language-in-main-page-header-disabled vector-feature-sticky-header-disabled vector-feature-page-tools-pinned-disabled vector-feature-toc-pinned-clientpref-1 vector-feature-main-menu-pinned-disabled vector-feature-limited-width-clientpref-1 vector-feature-limited-width-content-disabled vector-feature-custom-font-size-clientpref-1 vector-feature-appearance-pinned-clientpref-1 vector-feature-night-mode-enabled skin-theme-clientpref-day vector-toc-not-available" lang="en" dir="ltr"> <head> <meta charset="UTF-8"> <title>View source for Software release life cycle - Wikipedia</title> <script>(function(){var className="client-js vector-feature-language-in-header-enabled vector-feature-language-in-main-page-header-disabled vector-feature-sticky-header-disabled vector-feature-page-tools-pinned-disabled vector-feature-toc-pinned-clientpref-1 vector-feature-main-menu-pinned-disabled vector-feature-limited-width-clientpref-1 vector-feature-limited-width-content-disabled vector-feature-custom-font-size-clientpref-1 vector-feature-appearance-pinned-clientpref-1 vector-feature-night-mode-enabled skin-theme-clientpref-day vector-toc-not-available";var cookie=document.cookie.match(/(?:^|; )enwikimwclientpreferences=([^;]+)/);if(cookie){cookie[1].split('%2C').forEach(function(pref){className=className.replace(new RegExp('(^| )'+pref.replace(/-clientpref-\w+$|[^\w-]+/g,'')+'-clientpref-\\w+( |$)'),'$1'+pref+'$2');});}document.documentElement.className=className;}());RLCONF={"wgBreakFrames":true,"wgSeparatorTransformTable":["",""],"wgDigitTransformTable":["",""],"wgDefaultDateFormat": "dmy","wgMonthNames":["","January","February","March","April","May","June","July","August","September","October","November","December"],"wgRequestId":"ea1377cf-a909-4dd3-8a12-411011ad62d6","wgCanonicalNamespace":"","wgCanonicalSpecialPageName":false,"wgNamespaceNumber":0,"wgPageName":"Software_release_life_cycle","wgTitle":"Software release life cycle","wgCurRevisionId":1256943211,"wgRevisionId":0,"wgArticleId":220901,"wgIsArticle":false,"wgIsRedirect":false,"wgAction":"edit","wgUserName":null,"wgUserGroups":["*"],"wgCategories":[],"wgPageViewLanguage":"en","wgPageContentLanguage":"en","wgPageContentModel":"wikitext","wgRelevantPageName":"Software_release_life_cycle","wgRelevantArticleId":220901,"wgIsProbablyEditable":true,"wgRelevantPageIsProbablyEditable":true,"wgRestrictionEdit":[],"wgRestrictionMove":[],"wgNoticeProject":"wikipedia","wgCiteReferencePreviewsActive":false,"wgFlaggedRevsParams":{"tags":{"status":{"levels":1}}},"wgMediaViewerOnClick":true, "wgMediaViewerEnabledByDefault":true,"wgPopupsFlags":0,"wgVisualEditor":{"pageLanguageCode":"en","pageLanguageDir":"ltr","pageVariantFallbacks":"en"},"wgMFDisplayWikibaseDescriptions":{"search":true,"watchlist":true,"tagline":false,"nearby":true},"wgWMESchemaEditAttemptStepOversample":false,"wgWMEPageLength":20000,"wgRelatedArticlesCompat":[],"wgCentralAuthMobileDomain":false,"wgEditSubmitButtonLabelPublish":true,"wgULSPosition":"interlanguage","wgULSisCompactLinksEnabled":false,"wgVector2022LanguageInHeader":true,"wgULSisLanguageSelectorEmpty":false,"wgCheckUserClientHintsHeadersJsApi":["brands","architecture","bitness","fullVersionList","mobile","model","platform","platformVersion"],"GEHomepageSuggestedEditsEnableTopics":true,"wgGETopicsMatchModeEnabled":false,"wgGEStructuredTaskRejectionReasonTextInputEnabled":false,"wgGELevelingUpEnabledForUser":false};RLSTATE={"ext.globalCssJs.user.styles":"ready","site.styles":"ready","user.styles":"ready","ext.globalCssJs.user":"ready","user": "ready","user.options":"loading","skins.vector.search.codex.styles":"ready","skins.vector.styles":"ready","skins.vector.icons":"ready","jquery.makeCollapsible.styles":"ready","ext.charinsert.styles":"ready","ext.wikimediamessages.styles":"ready","ext.visualEditor.desktopArticleTarget.noscript":"ready","ext.uls.interlanguage":"ready","ext.wikimediaBadges":"ready"};RLPAGEMODULES=["mediawiki.action.edit.collapsibleFooter","site","mediawiki.page.ready","jquery.makeCollapsible","skins.vector.js","ext.centralNotice.geoIP","ext.charinsert","ext.gadget.ReferenceTooltips","ext.gadget.charinsert","ext.gadget.extra-toolbar-buttons","ext.gadget.refToolbar","ext.gadget.switcher","ext.urlShortener.toolbar","ext.centralauth.centralautologin","mmv.bootstrap","ext.popups","ext.visualEditor.desktopArticleTarget.init","ext.visualEditor.targetLoader","ext.echo.centralauth","ext.eventLogging","ext.wikimediaEvents","ext.navigationTiming","ext.uls.interface","ext.cx.eventlogging.campaigns", "ext.checkUser.clientHints","ext.growthExperiments.SuggestedEditSession","wikibase.sidebar.tracking"];</script> <script>(RLQ=window.RLQ||[]).push(function(){mw.loader.impl(function(){return["user.options@12s5i",function($,jQuery,require,module){mw.user.tokens.set({"patrolToken":"+\\","watchToken":"+\\","csrfToken":"+\\"}); }];});});</script> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/w/load.php?lang=en&modules=ext.charinsert.styles%7Cext.uls.interlanguage%7Cext.visualEditor.desktopArticleTarget.noscript%7Cext.wikimediaBadges%7Cext.wikimediamessages.styles%7Cjquery.makeCollapsible.styles%7Cskins.vector.icons%2Cstyles%7Cskins.vector.search.codex.styles&only=styles&skin=vector-2022"> <script async="" src="/w/load.php?lang=en&modules=startup&only=scripts&raw=1&skin=vector-2022"></script> <meta name="ResourceLoaderDynamicStyles" content=""> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/w/load.php?lang=en&modules=site.styles&only=styles&skin=vector-2022"> <meta name="generator" content="MediaWiki 1.44.0-wmf.4"> <meta name="referrer" content="origin"> <meta name="referrer" content="origin-when-cross-origin"> <meta name="robots" content="noindex,nofollow,max-image-preview:standard"> <meta name="format-detection" content="telephone=no"> <meta property="og:image" content="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/07/Software_dev2.svg/1200px-Software_dev2.svg.png"> <meta property="og:image:width" content="1200"> <meta property="og:image:height" content="2540"> <meta property="og:image" content="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/07/Software_dev2.svg/800px-Software_dev2.svg.png"> <meta property="og:image:width" content="800"> <meta property="og:image:height" content="1693"> <meta property="og:image" content="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/07/Software_dev2.svg/640px-Software_dev2.svg.png"> <meta property="og:image:width" content="640"> <meta property="og:image:height" content="1355"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=1120"> <meta property="og:title" content="View source for Software release life cycle - Wikipedia"> <meta property="og:type" content="website"> <link rel="preconnect" href="//upload.wikimedia.org"> <link rel="alternate" media="only screen and (max-width: 640px)" href="//en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_release_life_cycle"> <link rel="alternate" type="application/x-wiki" title="Edit this page" href="/w/index.php?title=Software_release_life_cycle&action=edit"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="/static/apple-touch/wikipedia.png"> <link rel="icon" href="/static/favicon/wikipedia.ico"> <link rel="search" type="application/opensearchdescription+xml" href="/w/rest.php/v1/search" title="Wikipedia (en)"> <link rel="EditURI" type="application/rsd+xml" href="//en.wikipedia.org/w/api.php?action=rsd"> <link rel="canonical" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_release_life_cycle"> <link rel="license" href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en"> <link rel="alternate" type="application/atom+xml" title="Wikipedia Atom feed" href="/w/index.php?title=Special:RecentChanges&feed=atom"> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="//login.wikimedia.org"> </head> <body class="skin--responsive skin-vector skin-vector-search-vue mediawiki ltr sitedir-ltr mw-hide-empty-elt ns-0 ns-subject mw-editable page-Software_release_life_cycle rootpage-Software_release_life_cycle skin-vector-2022 action-edit"><a class="mw-jump-link" href="#bodyContent">Jump to content</a> <div class="vector-header-container"> <header class="vector-header mw-header"> <div class="vector-header-start"> <nav class="vector-main-menu-landmark" aria-label="Site"> <div id="vector-main-menu-dropdown" class="vector-dropdown vector-main-menu-dropdown vector-button-flush-left vector-button-flush-right" > <input type="checkbox" id="vector-main-menu-dropdown-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-vector-main-menu-dropdown" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox " aria-label="Main menu" > <label id="vector-main-menu-dropdown-label" for="vector-main-menu-dropdown-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only " aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-menu mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-menu"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">Main menu</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div id="vector-main-menu-unpinned-container" class="vector-unpinned-container"> <div id="vector-main-menu" class="vector-main-menu vector-pinnable-element"> <div class="vector-pinnable-header vector-main-menu-pinnable-header vector-pinnable-header-unpinned" data-feature-name="main-menu-pinned" data-pinnable-element-id="vector-main-menu" data-pinned-container-id="vector-main-menu-pinned-container" data-unpinned-container-id="vector-main-menu-unpinned-container" > <div class="vector-pinnable-header-label">Main menu</div> <button class="vector-pinnable-header-toggle-button vector-pinnable-header-pin-button" data-event-name="pinnable-header.vector-main-menu.pin">move to sidebar</button> <button class="vector-pinnable-header-toggle-button vector-pinnable-header-unpin-button" data-event-name="pinnable-header.vector-main-menu.unpin">hide</button> </div> <div id="p-navigation" class="vector-menu mw-portlet mw-portlet-navigation" > <div class="vector-menu-heading"> Navigation </div> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li id="n-mainpage-description" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Main_Page" title="Visit the main page [z]" accesskey="z"><span>Main page</span></a></li><li id="n-contents" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Contents" title="Guides to browsing Wikipedia"><span>Contents</span></a></li><li id="n-currentevents" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Portal:Current_events" title="Articles related to current events"><span>Current events</span></a></li><li id="n-randompage" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Special:Random" title="Visit a randomly selected article [x]" accesskey="x"><span>Random article</span></a></li><li id="n-aboutsite" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:About" title="Learn about Wikipedia and how it works"><span>About Wikipedia</span></a></li><li id="n-contactpage" class="mw-list-item"><a href="//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Contact_us" title="How to contact Wikipedia"><span>Contact us</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="p-interaction" class="vector-menu mw-portlet mw-portlet-interaction" > <div class="vector-menu-heading"> Contribute </div> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li id="n-help" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Help:Contents" title="Guidance on how to use and edit Wikipedia"><span>Help</span></a></li><li id="n-introduction" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Help:Introduction" title="Learn how to edit Wikipedia"><span>Learn to edit</span></a></li><li id="n-portal" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Community_portal" title="The hub for editors"><span>Community portal</span></a></li><li id="n-recentchanges" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Special:RecentChanges" title="A list of recent changes to Wikipedia [r]" accesskey="r"><span>Recent changes</span></a></li><li id="n-upload" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:File_upload_wizard" title="Add images or other media for use on Wikipedia"><span>Upload file</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </nav> <a href="/wiki/Main_Page" class="mw-logo"> <img class="mw-logo-icon" src="/static/images/icons/wikipedia.png" alt="" aria-hidden="true" height="50" width="50"> <span class="mw-logo-container skin-invert"> <img class="mw-logo-wordmark" alt="Wikipedia" src="/static/images/mobile/copyright/wikipedia-wordmark-en.svg" style="width: 7.5em; height: 1.125em;"> <img class="mw-logo-tagline" alt="The Free Encyclopedia" src="/static/images/mobile/copyright/wikipedia-tagline-en.svg" width="117" height="13" style="width: 7.3125em; height: 0.8125em;"> </span> </a> </div> <div class="vector-header-end"> <div id="p-search" role="search" class="vector-search-box-vue vector-search-box-collapses vector-search-box-show-thumbnail vector-search-box-auto-expand-width vector-search-box"> <a href="/wiki/Special:Search" class="cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only search-toggle" title="Search Wikipedia [f]" accesskey="f"><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-search mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-search"></span> <span>Search</span> </a> <div class="vector-typeahead-search-container"> <div class="cdx-typeahead-search cdx-typeahead-search--show-thumbnail cdx-typeahead-search--auto-expand-width"> <form action="/w/index.php" id="searchform" class="cdx-search-input cdx-search-input--has-end-button"> <div id="simpleSearch" class="cdx-search-input__input-wrapper" data-search-loc="header-moved"> <div class="cdx-text-input cdx-text-input--has-start-icon"> <input class="cdx-text-input__input" type="search" name="search" placeholder="Search Wikipedia" aria-label="Search Wikipedia" autocapitalize="sentences" title="Search Wikipedia [f]" accesskey="f" id="searchInput" > <span class="cdx-text-input__icon cdx-text-input__start-icon"></span> </div> <input type="hidden" name="title" value="Special:Search"> </div> <button class="cdx-button cdx-search-input__end-button">Search</button> </form> </div> </div> </div> <nav class="vector-user-links vector-user-links-wide" aria-label="Personal tools"> <div class="vector-user-links-main"> <div id="p-vector-user-menu-preferences" class="vector-menu mw-portlet emptyPortlet" > <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="p-vector-user-menu-userpage" class="vector-menu mw-portlet emptyPortlet" > <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> </ul> </div> </div> <nav class="vector-appearance-landmark" aria-label="Appearance"> <div id="vector-appearance-dropdown" class="vector-dropdown " title="Change the appearance of the page's font size, width, and color" > <input type="checkbox" id="vector-appearance-dropdown-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-vector-appearance-dropdown" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox " aria-label="Appearance" > <label id="vector-appearance-dropdown-label" for="vector-appearance-dropdown-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only " aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-appearance mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-appearance"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">Appearance</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div id="vector-appearance-unpinned-container" class="vector-unpinned-container"> </div> </div> </div> </nav> <div id="p-vector-user-menu-notifications" class="vector-menu mw-portlet emptyPortlet" > <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="p-vector-user-menu-overflow" class="vector-menu mw-portlet" > <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li id="pt-sitesupport-2" class="user-links-collapsible-item mw-list-item user-links-collapsible-item"><a data-mw="interface" href="https://donate.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FundraiserRedirector?utm_source=donate&utm_medium=sidebar&utm_campaign=C13_en.wikipedia.org&uselang=en" class=""><span>Donate</span></a> </li> <li id="pt-createaccount-2" class="user-links-collapsible-item mw-list-item user-links-collapsible-item"><a data-mw="interface" href="/w/index.php?title=Special:CreateAccount&returnto=Software+release+life+cycle&returntoquery=action%3Dedit" title="You are encouraged to create an account and log in; however, it is not mandatory" class=""><span>Create account</span></a> </li> <li id="pt-login-2" class="user-links-collapsible-item mw-list-item user-links-collapsible-item"><a data-mw="interface" href="/w/index.php?title=Special:UserLogin&returnto=Software+release+life+cycle&returntoquery=action%3Dedit" title="You're encouraged to log in; however, it's not mandatory. [o]" accesskey="o" class=""><span>Log in</span></a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div id="vector-user-links-dropdown" class="vector-dropdown vector-user-menu vector-button-flush-right vector-user-menu-logged-out" title="Log in and more options" > <input type="checkbox" id="vector-user-links-dropdown-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-vector-user-links-dropdown" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox " aria-label="Personal tools" > <label id="vector-user-links-dropdown-label" for="vector-user-links-dropdown-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only " aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-ellipsis mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-ellipsis"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">Personal tools</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div id="p-personal" class="vector-menu mw-portlet mw-portlet-personal user-links-collapsible-item" title="User menu" > <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li id="pt-sitesupport" class="user-links-collapsible-item mw-list-item"><a href="https://donate.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FundraiserRedirector?utm_source=donate&utm_medium=sidebar&utm_campaign=C13_en.wikipedia.org&uselang=en"><span>Donate</span></a></li><li id="pt-createaccount" class="user-links-collapsible-item mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Special:CreateAccount&returnto=Software+release+life+cycle&returntoquery=action%3Dedit" title="You are encouraged to create an account and log in; however, it is not mandatory"><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-userAdd mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-userAdd"></span> <span>Create account</span></a></li><li id="pt-login" class="user-links-collapsible-item mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Special:UserLogin&returnto=Software+release+life+cycle&returntoquery=action%3Dedit" title="You're encouraged to log in; however, it's not mandatory. [o]" accesskey="o"><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-logIn mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-logIn"></span> <span>Log in</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="p-user-menu-anon-editor" class="vector-menu mw-portlet mw-portlet-user-menu-anon-editor" > <div class="vector-menu-heading"> Pages for logged out editors <a href="/wiki/Help:Introduction" aria-label="Learn more about editing"><span>learn more</span></a> </div> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li id="pt-anoncontribs" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Special:MyContributions" title="A list of edits made from this IP address [y]" accesskey="y"><span>Contributions</span></a></li><li id="pt-anontalk" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Special:MyTalk" title="Discussion about edits from this IP address [n]" accesskey="n"><span>Talk</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </header> </div> <div class="mw-page-container"> <div class="mw-page-container-inner"> <div class="vector-sitenotice-container"> <div id="siteNotice"></div> </div> <div class="vector-column-start"> <div class="vector-main-menu-container"> <div id="mw-navigation"> <nav id="mw-panel" class="vector-main-menu-landmark" aria-label="Site"> <div id="vector-main-menu-pinned-container" class="vector-pinned-container"> </div> </nav> </div> </div> </div> <div class="mw-content-container"> <main id="content" class="mw-body"> <header class="mw-body-header vector-page-titlebar"> <h1 id="firstHeading" class="firstHeading mw-first-heading">View source for Software release life cycle</h1> <div id="p-lang-btn" class="vector-dropdown mw-portlet mw-portlet-lang" > <input type="checkbox" id="p-lang-btn-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-p-lang-btn" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox mw-interlanguage-selector" aria-label="This article exist only in this language. Add the article for other languages" > <label id="p-lang-btn-label" for="p-lang-btn-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--action-progressive mw-portlet-lang-heading-0" aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-language-progressive mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-language-progressive"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">Add languages</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> </ul> <div class="after-portlet after-portlet-lang"><span class="uls-after-portlet-link"></span></div> </div> </div> </div> </header> <div class="vector-page-toolbar"> <div class="vector-page-toolbar-container"> <div id="left-navigation"> <nav aria-label="Namespaces"> <div id="p-associated-pages" class="vector-menu vector-menu-tabs mw-portlet mw-portlet-associated-pages" > <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li id="ca-nstab-main" class="selected vector-tab-noicon mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Software_release_life_cycle" title="View the content page [c]" accesskey="c"><span>Article</span></a></li><li id="ca-talk" class="vector-tab-noicon mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Talk:Software_release_life_cycle" rel="discussion" title="Discuss improvements to the content page [t]" accesskey="t"><span>Talk</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="vector-variants-dropdown" class="vector-dropdown emptyPortlet" > <input type="checkbox" id="vector-variants-dropdown-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-vector-variants-dropdown" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox " aria-label="Change language variant" > <label id="vector-variants-dropdown-label" for="vector-variants-dropdown-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet" aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">English</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div id="p-variants" class="vector-menu mw-portlet mw-portlet-variants emptyPortlet" > <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </nav> </div> <div id="right-navigation" class="vector-collapsible"> <nav aria-label="Views"> <div id="p-views" class="vector-menu vector-menu-tabs mw-portlet mw-portlet-views" > <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li id="ca-view" class="vector-tab-noicon mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Software_release_life_cycle"><span>Read</span></a></li><li id="ca-edit" class="selected vector-tab-noicon mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Software_release_life_cycle&action=edit" title="Edit this page"><span>Edit</span></a></li><li id="ca-history" class="vector-tab-noicon mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Software_release_life_cycle&action=history" title="Past revisions of this page [h]" accesskey="h"><span>View history</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </nav> <nav class="vector-page-tools-landmark" aria-label="Page tools"> <div id="vector-page-tools-dropdown" class="vector-dropdown vector-page-tools-dropdown" > <input type="checkbox" id="vector-page-tools-dropdown-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-vector-page-tools-dropdown" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox " aria-label="Tools" > <label id="vector-page-tools-dropdown-label" for="vector-page-tools-dropdown-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet" aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">Tools</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div id="vector-page-tools-unpinned-container" class="vector-unpinned-container"> <div id="vector-page-tools" class="vector-page-tools vector-pinnable-element"> <div class="vector-pinnable-header vector-page-tools-pinnable-header vector-pinnable-header-unpinned" data-feature-name="page-tools-pinned" data-pinnable-element-id="vector-page-tools" data-pinned-container-id="vector-page-tools-pinned-container" data-unpinned-container-id="vector-page-tools-unpinned-container" > <div class="vector-pinnable-header-label">Tools</div> <button class="vector-pinnable-header-toggle-button vector-pinnable-header-pin-button" data-event-name="pinnable-header.vector-page-tools.pin">move to sidebar</button> <button class="vector-pinnable-header-toggle-button vector-pinnable-header-unpin-button" data-event-name="pinnable-header.vector-page-tools.unpin">hide</button> </div> <div id="p-cactions" class="vector-menu mw-portlet mw-portlet-cactions emptyPortlet vector-has-collapsible-items" title="More options" > <div class="vector-menu-heading"> Actions </div> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li id="ca-more-view" class="vector-more-collapsible-item mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Software_release_life_cycle"><span>Read</span></a></li><li id="ca-more-edit" class="selected vector-more-collapsible-item mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Software_release_life_cycle&action=edit" title="Edit this page [e]" accesskey="e"><span>Edit</span></a></li><li id="ca-more-history" class="vector-more-collapsible-item mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Software_release_life_cycle&action=history"><span>View history</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="p-tb" class="vector-menu mw-portlet mw-portlet-tb" > <div class="vector-menu-heading"> General </div> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li id="t-whatlinkshere" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Special:WhatLinksHere/Software_release_life_cycle" title="List of all English Wikipedia pages containing links to this page [j]" accesskey="j"><span>What links here</span></a></li><li id="t-recentchangeslinked" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Special:RecentChangesLinked/Software_release_life_cycle" rel="nofollow" title="Recent changes in pages linked from this page [k]" accesskey="k"><span>Related changes</span></a></li><li id="t-upload" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:File_Upload_Wizard" title="Upload files [u]" accesskey="u"><span>Upload file</span></a></li><li id="t-specialpages" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Special:SpecialPages" title="A list of all special pages [q]" accesskey="q"><span>Special pages</span></a></li><li id="t-info" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Software_release_life_cycle&action=info" title="More information about this page"><span>Page information</span></a></li><li id="t-urlshortener" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Special:UrlShortener&url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fw%2Findex.php%3Ftitle%3DSoftware_release_life_cycle%26action%3Dedit"><span>Get shortened URL</span></a></li><li id="t-urlshortener-qrcode" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Special:QrCode&url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fw%2Findex.php%3Ftitle%3DSoftware_release_life_cycle%26action%3Dedit"><span>Download QR code</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="p-wikibase-otherprojects" class="vector-menu mw-portlet mw-portlet-wikibase-otherprojects" > <div class="vector-menu-heading"> In other projects </div> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li id="t-wikibase" class="wb-otherproject-link wb-otherproject-wikibase-dataitem mw-list-item"><a href="https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Special:EntityPage/Q1211457" title="Structured data on this page hosted by Wikidata [g]" accesskey="g"><span>Wikidata item</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </div> </div> <div class="vector-column-end"> <div class="vector-sticky-pinned-container"> <nav class="vector-page-tools-landmark" aria-label="Page tools"> <div id="vector-page-tools-pinned-container" class="vector-pinned-container"> </div> </nav> <nav class="vector-appearance-landmark" aria-label="Appearance"> <div id="vector-appearance-pinned-container" class="vector-pinned-container"> <div id="vector-appearance" class="vector-appearance vector-pinnable-element"> <div class="vector-pinnable-header vector-appearance-pinnable-header vector-pinnable-header-pinned" data-feature-name="appearance-pinned" data-pinnable-element-id="vector-appearance" data-pinned-container-id="vector-appearance-pinned-container" data-unpinned-container-id="vector-appearance-unpinned-container" > <div class="vector-pinnable-header-label">Appearance</div> <button class="vector-pinnable-header-toggle-button vector-pinnable-header-pin-button" data-event-name="pinnable-header.vector-appearance.pin">move to sidebar</button> <button class="vector-pinnable-header-toggle-button vector-pinnable-header-unpin-button" data-event-name="pinnable-header.vector-appearance.unpin">hide</button> </div> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </div> <div id="bodyContent" class="vector-body" aria-labelledby="firstHeading" data-mw-ve-target-container> <div class="vector-body-before-content"> <div class="mw-indicators"> </div> </div> <div id="contentSub"><div id="mw-content-subtitle">← <a href="/wiki/Software_release_life_cycle" title="Software release life cycle">Software release life cycle</a></div></div> <div id="mw-content-text" class="mw-body-content"><p>You do not have permission to edit this page, for the following reasons: </p> <ul class="permissions-errors"><li class="mw-permissionerror-blockedtext"> <div id="mw-blocked-text" style="border: 1px solid #AAA; background-color: var(--background-color-warning-subtle, ivory); color: inherit; padding: 1.5em; width: 100%; box-sizing: border-box;"> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 26px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Stop_hand_nuvola.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/f1/Stop_hand_nuvola.svg/50px-Stop_hand_nuvola.svg.png" decoding="async" width="50" height="50" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/f1/Stop_hand_nuvola.svg/75px-Stop_hand_nuvola.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/f1/Stop_hand_nuvola.svg/100px-Stop_hand_nuvola.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="240" data-file-height="240" /></a></span><b> This IP address has been <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Blocking_policy" title="Wikipedia:Blocking policy">blocked</a> from <i>editing</i> Wikipedia.</b></span><br /><span style="font-size: 18px;">This does not affect your ability to <i>read</i> Wikipedia pages.</span></div><div class="paragraphbreak" style="margin-top:0.5em"></div><b>Most people who see this message have done nothing wrong.</b> Some kinds of blocks restrict editing from specific service providers or telecom companies in response to recent abuse or vandalism, and can sometimes affect other users who are unrelated to that abuse. Review the information below for assistance if you do not believe that you have done anything wrong.<div class="paragraphbreak" style="margin-top:0.5em"></div> <p>The IP address or range 8.222.128.0/17 has been <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Blocking_policy" title="Wikipedia:Blocking policy">blocked</a> by <a href="/wiki/User:L235" title="User:L235">‪L235‬</a> for the following reason(s): </p> <div style="padding:10px; background:var(--background-color-base, white); color:inherit; border:1px #666 solid;"> <div class="user-block colocation-webhost" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; background-color: #ffefd5; border: 1px solid #AAA; padding: 0.7em;"> <figure class="mw-halign-left" typeof="mw:File"><span><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/53/Server-multiple.svg/40px-Server-multiple.svg.png" decoding="async" width="40" height="57" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/53/Server-multiple.svg/60px-Server-multiple.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/53/Server-multiple.svg/80px-Server-multiple.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="744" data-file-height="1052" /></span><figcaption></figcaption></figure><b>The <a href="/wiki/IP_address" title="IP address">IP address</a> that you are currently using has been blocked because it is believed to be a <a href="/wiki/Web_hosting_service" title="Web hosting service">web host provider</a> or <a href="/wiki/Colocation_centre" title="Colocation centre">colocation provider</a>.</b> To prevent abuse, <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Open_proxies" title="Wikipedia:Open proxies">web hosts and colocation providers may be blocked</a> from editing Wikipedia. <div style="border-top: 1px solid #AAA; clear: both">You will not be able to edit Wikipedia using a web host or colocation provider because it hides your IP address, much like a <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Open_proxies" title="Wikipedia:Open proxies">proxy</a> or <a href="/wiki/Virtual_private_network" title="Virtual private network">VPN</a>. <p><b>We recommend that you attempt to use another connection to edit.</b> For example, if you use a proxy or VPN to connect to the internet, turn it off when editing Wikipedia. If you edit using a mobile connection, try using a Wi-Fi connection, and vice versa. If you are using a corporate internet connection, switch to a different Wi-Fi network. If you have a Wikipedia account, please log in. </p><p>If you do not have any other way to edit Wikipedia, you will need to <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:IP_block_exemption#Requesting_and_granting_exemption" title="Wikipedia:IP block exemption">request an IP block exemption</a>. </p> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1214851843">.mw-parser-output .hidden-begin{box-sizing:border-box;width:100%;padding:5px;border:none;font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .hidden-title{font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;text-align:left}.mw-parser-output .hidden-content{text-align:left}@media all and (max-width:500px){.mw-parser-output .hidden-begin{width:auto!important;clear:none!important;float:none!important}}</style><div class="hidden-begin mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style=""><div class="hidden-title skin-nightmode-reset-color" style="text-align:center;">How to appeal if you are confident that your connection does not use a colocation provider's IP address:</div><div class="hidden-content mw-collapsible-content" style=""> If you are confident that you are not using a web host, you may <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Appealing_a_block" title="Wikipedia:Appealing a block">appeal this block</a> by adding the following text on your <a href="/wiki/Help:Talk_pages" title="Help:Talk pages">talk page</a>: <code>{{<a href="/wiki/Template:Unblock" title="Template:Unblock">unblock</a>|reason=Caught by a colocation web host block but this host or IP is not a web host. My IP address is _______. <i>Place any further information here.</i> ~~~~}}</code>. <b>You must fill in the blank with your IP address for this block to be investigated.</b> Your IP address can be determined <span class="plainlinks"><b><a class="external text" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Get_my_IP_address?withJS=MediaWiki:Get-my-ip.js">here</a></b></span>. Alternatively, if you wish to keep your IP address private you can use the <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Unblock_Ticket_Request_System" title="Wikipedia:Unblock Ticket Request System">unblock ticket request system</a>. There are several reasons you might be editing using the IP address of a web host or colocation provider (such as if you are using VPN software or a business network); please use this method of appeal only if you think your IP address is in fact not a web host or colocation provider.</div></div> <p><span class="sysop-show" style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="border:#707070 solid 1px;background-color:#ffe0e0;padding:2px"><b>Administrators:</b></span> The <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:IP_block_exemption" title="Wikipedia:IP block exemption">IP block exemption</a> user right should only be applied to allow users to edit using web host in exceptional circumstances, and requests should usually be directed to the functionaries team via email. If you intend to give the IPBE user right, a <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:CheckUser" title="Wikipedia:CheckUser">CheckUser</a> needs to take a look at the account. This can be requested most easily at <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:SPI#Quick_CheckUser_requests" class="mw-redirect" title="Wikipedia:SPI">SPI Quick Checkuser Requests</a>. <b>Unblocking</b> an IP or IP range with this template <b>is highly discouraged</b> without at least contacting the blocking administrator.</span> </p> </div></div> </div> <p>This block will expire on 18:23, 24 August 2026. Your current IP address is 8.222.208.146. </p> <div class="paragraphbreak" style="margin-top:0.5em"></div><div style="font-size: 16px;"> <p>Even when blocked, you will <i>usually</i> still be able to edit your <a href="/wiki/Special:MyTalk" title="Special:MyTalk">user talk page</a>, as well as <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Emailing_users" title="Wikipedia:Emailing users">email</a> administrators and other editors. </p> </div> <div class="paragraphbreak" style="margin-top:0.5em"></div><div style="font-size: 16px;"> <p>For information on how to proceed, please read the <b><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Appealing_a_block#Common_questions" title="Wikipedia:Appealing a block">FAQ for blocked users</a></b> and the <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Appealing_a_block" title="Wikipedia:Appealing a block">guideline on block appeals</a>. The <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Guide_to_appealing_blocks" title="Wikipedia:Guide to appealing blocks">guide to appealing blocks</a> may also be helpful. </p> </div> <p>Other useful links: <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Blocking_policy" title="Wikipedia:Blocking policy">Blocking policy</a> · <a href="/wiki/Help:I_have_been_blocked" title="Help:I have been blocked">Help:I have been blocked</a> </p> </div></li><li class="mw-permissionerror-globalblocking-blockedtext-range"> <div id="mw-blocked-text" style="border: 1px solid #AAA; background-color: var(--background-color-warning-subtle, ivory); color: inherit; padding: 1.5em; width: 100%; box-sizing: border-box;"> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 26px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Stop_hand_nuvola.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/f1/Stop_hand_nuvola.svg/50px-Stop_hand_nuvola.svg.png" decoding="async" width="50" height="50" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/f1/Stop_hand_nuvola.svg/75px-Stop_hand_nuvola.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/f1/Stop_hand_nuvola.svg/100px-Stop_hand_nuvola.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="240" data-file-height="240" /></a></span><b> This IP address range has been <a href="https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Global_blocks" class="extiw" title="m:Global blocks">globally blocked</a>.</b></span><br /><span style="font-size: 18px;">This does not affect your ability to <i>read</i> Wikipedia pages.</span></div><div class="paragraphbreak" style="margin-top:0.5em"></div><b>Most people who see this message have done nothing wrong.</b> Some kinds of blocks restrict editing from specific service providers or telecom companies in response to recent abuse or vandalism, and can sometimes affect other users who are unrelated to that abuse. Review the information below for assistance if you do not believe that you have done anything wrong.<div class="paragraphbreak" style="margin-top:0.5em"></div><div class="paragraphbreak" style="margin-top:0.5em"></div> <p>This block affects editing on all Wikimedia wikis. </p><p>The IP address or range 8.222.128.0/17 has been globally <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Blocking_policy" title="Wikipedia:Blocking policy">blocked</a> by <a href="/wiki/User:Jon_Kolbert" title="User:Jon Kolbert">‪Jon Kolbert‬</a> for the following reason(s): </p> <div style="padding:10px; background:var(--background-color-base, white); color:inherit; border:1px #666 solid;"> <p><a href="https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/NOP" class="extiw" title="m:Special:MyLanguage/NOP">Open proxy/Webhost</a>: See the <a href="https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/WM:OP/H" class="extiw" title="m:WM:OP/H">help page</a> if you are affected </p> </div> <p>This block will expire on 15:12, 27 August 2028. Your current IP address is 8.222.208.146. </p> <div class="paragraphbreak" style="margin-top:0.5em"></div><div style="font-size: 16px;"> <p>Even while globally blocked, you will <i>usually</i> still be able to edit pages on <a href="https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/" class="extiw" title="m:">Meta-Wiki</a>. </p> </div> <div class="paragraphbreak" style="margin-top:0.5em"></div><div style="font-size: 16px;"> <p>If you believe you were blocked by mistake, you can find additional information and instructions in the <a href="https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/No_open_proxies" class="extiw" title="m:Special:MyLanguage/No open proxies">No open proxies</a> global policy. Otherwise, to discuss the block please <a href="https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Steward_requests/Global" class="extiw" title="m:Steward requests/Global">post a request for review on Meta-Wiki</a>. You could also send an email to the <a href="https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/Stewards" class="extiw" title="m:Special:MyLanguage/Stewards">stewards</a> <a href="https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/VRT" class="extiw" title="m:Special:MyLanguage/VRT">VRT</a> queue at <kbd>stewards@wikimedia.org</kbd> including all above details. </p> </div> <p>Other useful links: <a href="https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Global_blocks" class="extiw" title="m:Global blocks">Global blocks</a> · <a href="/wiki/Help:I_have_been_blocked" title="Help:I have been blocked">Help:I have been blocked</a> </p> </div></li></ul><hr /> <div id="viewsourcetext">You can view and copy the source of this page:</div><textarea readonly="" accesskey="," id="wpTextbox1" cols="80" rows="25" style="" class="mw-editfont-monospace" lang="en" dir="ltr" name="wpTextbox1">{{Short description|Stages in creation of computer software}} {{More citations needed|date=April 2023}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024|cs1-dates=y}} The '''software release life cycle''' is the process of developing, testing, and distributing a software product (e.g., an [[operating system]]). It typically consists of several stages, such as pre-alpha, alpha, beta, and release candidate, before the final version, or "gold", is released to the public. [[File:Software dev2.svg|thumb|upright=1.1|An example of a basic software release life cycle]] Pre-alpha refers to the early stages of development, when the software is still being designed and built. Alpha testing is the first phase of formal testing, during which the software is tested internally using [[White-box testing|white-box techniques]]. Beta testing is the next phase, in which the software is tested by a larger group of users, typically outside of the organization that developed it. The beta phase is focused on reducing impacts on users and may include usability testing. After beta testing, the software may go through one or more release candidate phases, in which it is refined and tested further, before the final version is released. Some software, particularly in the internet and technology industries, is released in a perpetual beta state, meaning that it is continuously being updated and improved, and is never considered to be a fully completed product. This approach allows for a more agile development process and enables the software to be released and used by users earlier in the development cycle. == Stages of development == === Pre-alpha === Pre-alpha refers to all activities performed during the software project before formal testing. These activities can include [[requirements analysis]], [[software design]], [[software development]], and [[unit testing]]. In typical [[Open-source software|open source]] development, there are several types of pre-alpha versions. ''Milestone'' versions include specific sets of functions and are released as soon as the feature is complete.{{citation needed|date=April 2023}} === {{anchor|Alpha}}Alpha === The alpha phase of the release life cycle is the first phase of [[software testing]] (alpha is the first letter of the [[Greek alphabet]], used as the number 1). In this phase, developers generally test the software using [[white-box testing|white-box techniques]]. Additional validation is then performed using [[black-box testing|black-box]] or [[Grey box testing#Grey box testing|gray-box]] techniques, by another testing team. Moving to black-box testing inside the organization is known as ''alpha release''.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia_term/0,2542,t=alpha+version&i=37675,00.asp |title=Encyclopedia definition of alpha version |magazine=[[PC Magazine]] |access-date=2011-01-12 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110427065905/http://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia_term/0%2C2542%2Ct%3Dalpha%20version%26i%3D37675%2C00.asp |archive-date=2011-04-27 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://video-answer.com/what-is-an-alpha-version-of-a-game/|title= What is an alpha version of a game?|access-date=2022-09-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220923135620/https://video-answer.com/what-is-an-alpha-version-of-a-game/|archive-date=Sep 23, 2022}}</ref> Alpha software is not thoroughly tested by the developer before it is released to customers. Alpha software may contain serious errors, and any resulting instability could cause crashes or data loss.<ref>{{cite book |editor1-last=Ince |editor1-first=Darrel |title=A Dictionary of the Internet (3 ed.) |chapter=Alpha software |year=2013 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-174415-0 |url=https://www.oxfordreference.com/abstract/10.1093/acref/9780191744150.001.0001/acref-9780191744150-e-95?rskey=VLB7Gk&result=2 |access-date=15 July 2019}}</ref> Alpha software may not contain all of the features that are planned for the final version.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=The Next Generation 1996 Lexicon A to Z|magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|issue=15 |publisher=[[Imagine Media]]|date=March 1996|page=29|quote=Alpha software generally barely runs and is missing major features like gameplay and complete levels.}}</ref> In general, external availability of alpha software is uncommon for [[proprietary software]], while [[Free and open-source software|open source software]] often has publicly available alpha versions. The alpha phase usually ends with a [[Freeze (software engineering)|feature freeze]], indicating that no more features will be added to the software. At this time, the software is said to be [[#Feature-complete|feature-complete]]. A beta test is carried out following [[acceptance testing]] at the supplier's site (the alpha test) and immediately before the general release of the software as a product.<ref>{{cite book |title=A Dictionary of Computer Science |year=2016 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-968897-5 |page=44 |edition=7th}}</ref> ==== Feature-complete ==== A '''feature-complete''' (FC) version of a piece of [[software]] has all of its planned or primary [[software feature|features]] implemented but is not yet final due to [[software bug|bugs]], [[software performance|performance]] or [[Software testing|stability]] issues.<ref>{{cite book |last=Cusumano |first=Michael |url=https://archive.org/details/microsoftsecrets00cusu |title=Microsoft Secrets: How the World's Most Powerful Software Company Creates Technology, Shapes Markets, and Manages People |publisher=Free Press |year=1998 |isbn=978-0-684-85531-8 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/microsoftsecrets00cusu/page/202 202–203] |url-access=registration}}</ref> This occurs at the end of alpha testing in [[Software development|development]]. Usually, feature-complete software still has to undergo [[beta testing]] and [[Patch (computing)|bug fixing]], as well as performance or stability enhancement before it can go to [[#Release candidate|release candidate]], and finally [[#Release|gold]] status. === {{Anchor|BETA}}Beta ===  {{Redirect|Beta test|the 2016 film|Beta Test (film)|the 2021 film|The Beta Test}} {{See also|Software testing#Beta testing}} Beta, named after [[Beta|the second letter of the Greek alphabet]], is the software development phase following alpha. A beta phase generally begins when the software is feature-complete but likely to contain several known or unknown bugs.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=The Next Generation 1996 Lexicon A to Z|magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|issue=15 |publisher=[[Imagine Media]]|date=March 1996|page=30|url=https://archive.org/details/nextgen-issue-015/page/n31/mode/2up}}</ref> Software in the beta phase will generally have many more bugs in it than completed software and speed or performance issues, and may still cause crashes or data loss. The focus of beta testing is reducing impacts on users, often incorporating [[usability testing]]. The process of delivering a beta version to the users is called ''beta release'' and is typically the first time that the software is available outside of the organization that developed it. Software beta releases can be either [[#Open and closed beta|open or closed]], depending on whether they are openly available or only available to a limited audience. Beta version software is often useful for demonstrations and previews within an organization and to prospective customers. Some developers refer to this stage as a ''preview'', ''preview release'', ''prototype'', ''technical preview'' or ''technology preview'' (''TP''),<ref>{{cite web | url = https://access.redhat.com/support/offerings/techpreview | title = Technology Preview Features Support Scope | access-date = 2015-03-18 | publisher = [[Red Hat]] }}</ref> or ''[[early access]]''. ''Beta testers'' are people who actively report issues with beta software. They are usually customers or representatives of prospective customers of the organization that develops the software. Beta testers tend to volunteer their services free of charge but often receive versions of the product they test, discounts on the release version, or other incentives.<ref>{{cite news | author=Amit Mehra, Rajib Lochan Saha |title=Utilizing Public Betas and Free Trials to Launch a Software Product |date=19 June 2017 |journal=Production and Operations Management | volume=27 | issue=11}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | author=Michelle M. Lang |title=Beta Wars |date=17 May 2004 |journal=Design News | volume=59 | issue=7}}</ref> ==== Perpetual beta ==== {{Main article|Perpetual beta}} Some software is kept in so-called ''perpetual beta'', where new features are continually added to the software without establishing a final "stable" release. As the [[Internet]] has facilitated the rapid and inexpensive distribution of software, companies have begun to take a looser approach to the use of the word ''beta''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tidbits.com/tb-issues/TidBITS-328.html |title=Waiting with Beta'd Breath ''TidBITS'' #328 (May 13, 1996) |date=13 May 1996 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060515093203/http://www.tidbits.com/tb-issues/TidBITS-328.html |archive-date = 2006-05-15}}</ref> ==== Open and closed beta ==== Developers may release either a ''closed beta'', or an ''open beta''; closed beta versions are released to a restricted group of individuals for a user test by invitation, while open beta testers are from a larger group, or anyone interested. Private beta could be suitable for the software that is capable of delivering value but is not ready to be used by everyone either due to scaling issues, lack of documentation or still missing vital features. The testers report any bugs that they find, and sometimes suggest additional features they think should be available in the final version. Open betas serve the dual purpose of demonstrating a product to potential consumers, and testing among a wide user base is likely to bring to light obscure errors that a much smaller testing team might not find. === Release candidate === [[File:Microsoft windows 2000 server rc2 media.jpg|thumb|upright|Microsoft windows 2000 server RC&nbsp;2 media]] A ''release candidate'' (''RC''), also known as gamma testing or "going silver", is a beta version with the potential to be a stable product, which is ready to release unless significant [[software bug|bugs]] emerge. In this stage of product stabilization, all product features have been designed, coded, and tested through one or more beta cycles with no known showstopper-class bugs. A release is called ''code complete'' when the development team agrees that no entirely new source code will be added to this release. There could still be source code changes to fix defects, changes to documentation and data files, and peripheral code for test cases or utilities. Beta testers, if privately selected, will often be credited for using the release candidate as though it were a finished product. Beta testing is conducted in a client's or customer's location and to test the software from a user's perspective.{{citation needed|date=April 2023}} === Stable release === Also called ''production release'', the ''stable release'' is the last ''release candidate'' (''RC'') which has passed all stages of verification and tests. Any known remaining bugs are considered acceptable. This release goes to [[Deployment environment#Production|production]]. Some software products (e.g. [[Linux distribution]]s like [[Debian#Branches|Debian]]) also have ''[[long-term support]]'' (''LTS'') releases which are based on full releases that have already been tried and tested and receive only security updates. This allows developers to allocate more time toward product development instead of updating code or finding and fixing newly introduced bugs due to outdated assumptions about the used system, language, or underlying libraries.{{citation needed|date=April 2023}} == {{Anchor|STABLE-RELEASE}}Release == Once released, the software is generally known as a "stable release". The formal term often depends on the method of release: physical media, online release, or a web application.<ref name="Google Blog-2009" /> === {{Anchor|RTM|Release to manufacturing|Release to marketing|RTM or RTW}}Release to manufacturing (RTM) === [[File:Satya Nadella Gears of War 4 Gold Master.jpg|thumb|[[Satya Nadella]] of [[Microsoft]] with the gold master disc of ''[[Gears of War 4]]'']] The term "release to manufacturing" (RTM), also known as "going gold", is a term used when a software product is ready to be delivered. This build may be digitally signed, allowing the end user to verify the integrity and authenticity of the software purchase. A copy of the RTM build known as the "[[mastering (audio)|gold master]]" or GM<ref>{{cite web |title=What is Golden Master (GM)? - Definition from Techopedia |url=https://www.techopedia.com/definition/5434/golden-master-gm |website=Techopedia.com |date=19 August 2013 |language=en}}</ref> is sent for mass duplication or disc replication if applicable. The terminology is taken from the audio record-making industry, specifically the process of [[mastering (audio)|mastering]]. RTM precedes general availability (GA) when the product is released to the public. A golden master build (GM) is typically the final build of a piece of software in the beta stages for developers. Typically, for [[iOS]], it is the final build before a major release, however, there have been a few exceptions. RTM is typically used in certain retail mass-production software contexts—as opposed to a specialized software production or project in a commercial or government production and distribution—where the software is sold as part of a bundle in a related computer hardware sale and typically where the software and related hardware is ultimately to be available and sold on mass/public basis at retail stores to indicate that the software has met a defined quality level and is ready for mass retail distribution. RTM could also mean in other contexts that the software has been delivered or released to a client or customer for installation or distribution to the related hardware end user computers or machines. The term does ''not'' define the delivery mechanism or volume; it only states that the quality is sufficient for mass distribution. The deliverable from the engineering organization is frequently in the form of a golden master media used for duplication or to produce the image for the web. === {{Anchor|GA|General availability}}General availability (GA) === [[File:ProductEndOfLifeCycle.png|thumb|Milestones in a product life cycle: general availability (GA), [[end of life announcement]] (EOLA), [[last order date]] (LOD), and [[End-of-life (product)|end-of-life]] (EOL)]] '''General availability''' ('''GA''') is the marketing stage at which all necessary [[commercialization]] activities have been completed and a software product is available for purchase, depending, however, on language, region, and electronic vs. media availability.<ref>{{cite web |first=Yvan Philippe |last=Luxembourg |title=Top 200 SAM Terms – A Glossary Of Software Asset Management Terms |url=http://omtco.eu/references/sam/top-200-sam-terms-a-glossary-of-software-asset-management-terms/ |website=Operations Management Technology Consulting |date=20 May 2013 |access-date=21 May 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130810111112/http://omtco.eu/references/sam/top-200-sam-terms-a-glossary-of-software-asset-management-terms/ |archive-date=10 August 2013 }}</ref> Commercialization activities could include security and compliance tests, as well as localization and worldwide availability. The time between RTM and GA can take from days to months before a generally available release can be declared, due to the time needed to complete all commercialization activities required by GA. At this stage, the software has "gone live". === {{Anchor|Web release}}Release to the Web (RTW) === '''Release to the Web''' ('''RTW''') or '''Web release''' is a means of software delivery that utilizes the Internet for distribution. No physical media are produced in this type of release mechanism by the manufacturer. Web releases have become more common as Internet usage grew.{{cn|date=April 2023}} == Support == During its supported lifetime, the software is sometimes subjected to service releases, [[patch (computing)|patches]] or [[service pack]]s, sometimes also called "interim releases" or "maintenance releases" (MR). For example, Microsoft released three major service packs for the [[32-bit computing|32-bit]] editions of [[Windows XP]] and two service packs for the [[64-bit computing|64-bit]] editions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Microsoft Update Catalog |url=https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=xp%20service%20pack%203 |access-date=2024-05-03 |website=www.catalog.update.microsoft.com}}</ref> Such service releases contain a collection of updates, fixes, and enhancements, delivered in the form of a single installable package. They may also implement new features. Some software is released with the expectation of regular support. Classes of software that generally involve protracted support as the norm include [[Antivirus software|anti-virus suites]] and [[massively multiplayer online game]]s. Continuing with this Windows XP example, Microsoft did offer paid updates for five more years after the end of extended support. This means that support ended on April 8, 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-07-20 |title=Microsoft Product Lifecycle Search |url=http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/search/default.aspx?alpha=Windows+XP |access-date=2024-05-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120720010405/http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/search/default.aspx?alpha=Windows+XP |archive-date=20 July 2012 }}</ref> === End-of-life {{Anchor|EOL|End of life}} === {{See also|End-of-life product|Abandonware}} When software is no longer sold or supported, the product is said to have reached end-of-life, to be discontinued, retired, deprecated, abandoned, or obsolete, but user loyalty may continue its existence for some time, even long after its platform is obsolete—e.g., the [[Common Desktop Environment]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=[cdesktopenv-devel] CDE 2.2.1 released {{!}} CDE - Common Desktop Environment |url=https://sourceforge.net/p/cdesktopenv/mailman/message/32043063/ |access-date=2024-05-03 |website=sourceforge.net}}</ref> and Sinclair [[ZX Spectrum]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-01-05 |title=ZX-Uno [ZX Spectrum Computer Clone Based on FPGA] |url=http://zxuno.speccy.org/index_e.shtml |access-date=2024-05-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180105191835/http://zxuno.speccy.org/index_e.shtml |archive-date=5 January 2018 }}</ref> After the end-of-life date, the developer will usually not implement any new features, fix existing defects, bugs, or vulnerabilities (whether known before that date or not), or provide any support for the product. If the developer wishes, they may release the source code, so the platform will live again, and be maintained by volunteers, and if not, it may be reverse-engineered later when it becomes [[abandonware]]. == History == Usage of the "alpha/beta" test terminology originated at [[IBM]].{{cn|date=May 2024}} Similar terminologies for IBM's software development were used by people involved with IBM from at least the 1950s (and probably earlier). "A" test was the [[software verification|verification]] of a new product before the public announcement. The "B" test was the verification before releasing the product to be manufactured. The "C" test was the final test before the general availability of the product. As software became a significant part of IBM's offerings, the alpha test terminology was used to denote the pre-announcement test and the beta test was used to show product readiness for general availability. Martin Belsky, a manager on some of IBM's earlier software projects claimed to have invented the terminology. IBM dropped the alpha/beta terminology during the 1960s, but by then it had received fairly wide notice. The usage of "beta test" to refer to testing done by customers was not done in IBM. Rather, IBM used the term "field test". Major public betas developed afterward, with early customers having purchased a "pioneer edition" of the WordVision word processor for the [[IBM PC]] for $49.95. In 1984, [[Stephen Manes]] wrote that "in a brilliant marketing coup, Bruce and James Program Publishers managed to get people to ''pay'' for the privilege of testing the product."<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Taking A Gamble With Word Vision |author-last=Manes |author-first=Stephen |author-link=Stephen Manes |magazine=[[PC Magazine]] - The Independent Guide To IBM Personal Computers |publisher=[[PC Communications Corp.]] |issn=0745-2500 |date=1984-04-03 |volume=3 |number=6 |pages=211–221 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=e-gI2W-3JwkC&pg=PA211 |access-date=2015-02-15 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150317045015/https://books.google.com/books?id=e-gI2W-3JwkC&lpg=PA212&pg=PA211 |archive-date=2015-03-17}}</ref> In September 2000, a ''boxed version'' of [[Apple Inc.|Apple]]'s [[Mac OS X Public Beta]] operating system was released.<ref>{{cite press release|title=Apple Releases Mac OS X Public Beta |publisher=Apple Inc. |url=https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2000/09/13Apple-Releases-Mac-OS-X-Public-Beta/ |access-date=2024-01-28 |date=13 September 2000}}</ref> Between September 2005 and May 2006, Microsoft released ''community technology preview''s (''CTP''s) for [[Windows Vista]].<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/newsroom/winxp/WinVistaCTPFS.mspx |title=Microsoft Windows Vista October Community Technology Preview Fact Sheet |date=October 2005 |access-date=2011-02-22 |publisher=Microsoft |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430145018/http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/newsroom/winxp/WinVistaCTPFS.mspx |archive-date=2011-04-30 }}</ref> From 2009 to 2011, ''[[Minecraft]]'' was in public beta. In February 2005, [[ZDNet]] published an article about the phenomenon of a beta version often staying for years and being used as if it were at the production level.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9588-5571590.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050214062749/http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9588-5571590.html|archive-date=2005-02-14|title=A long winding road out of beta |website= Tech News on ZDNet |first1= Paul |last1=Festa |date=2005-02-14|access-date=2019-04-28}}</ref> It noted that [[Gmail]] and [[Google News]], for example, had been in beta for a long time although widely used; Google News left beta in January 2006, followed by Google Apps (now named [[Google Workspace]]), including Gmail, in July 2009.<ref name="Google Blog-2009">{{cite web|url=http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/google-apps-is-out-of-beta-yes-really.html |title=Google Apps is out of beta (yes, really) |work=Google Blog |date=7 July 2009 |access-date=2011-01-12 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110121002635/http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/google-apps-is-out-of-beta-yes-really.html |archive-date=21 January 2011 }}</ref> Since the introduction of [[Windows 8]], [[Microsoft]] has called pre-release software a ''preview'' rather than ''beta''. All pre-release builds released through the [[Windows Insider Program]] launched in 2014 are termed "Insider Preview builds". "Beta" may also indicate something more like a [[#Release candidate|release candidate]], or as a form of time-limited demo, or marketing technique.<ref>{{cite web|url-status=live |url=http://www.gamesradar.com/f/the-inconvenient-truths-behind-betas/a-2010051712402686048 |title=The inconvenient truths behind betas |first1=David |last1=Houghton |date=May 17, 2010 |website=GamesRadar |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430173029/http://www.gamesradar.com/f/the-inconvenient-truths-behind-betas/a-2010051712402686048 |archive-date=2011-04-30 }}</ref> == See also == {{Portal|Computer programming}} * [[Application lifecycle management]] * [[Application-release automation]] * [[Application retirement]] * [[Release engineering]] * [[Release management]] * [[Rolling release]] * [[Software deployment]] * [[Software versioning]] ==References== {{reflist}} {{Software distribution}} [[Category:Software release| ]] </textarea><div class="templatesUsed"><div class="mw-templatesUsedExplanation"><p><span id="templatesused">Pages transcluded onto the current version of this page<span class="posteditwindowhelplinks"> (<a href="/wiki/Help:Transclusion" title="Help:Transclusion">help</a>)</span>:</span> </p></div><ul> <li><a href="/wiki/Beta_test" class="mw-redirect" title="Beta test">Beta test</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Beta_test&action=edit" class="mw-redirect" title="Beta test">edit</a>) </li><li><a href="/wiki/Template:Ambox" title="Template:Ambox">Template:Ambox</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Template:Ambox&action=edit" title="Template:Ambox">view source</a>) (template editor protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Template:Anchor" title="Template:Anchor">Template:Anchor</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Template:Anchor&action=edit" title="Template:Anchor">view source</a>) (template editor protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Template:Category_handler" title="Template:Category handler">Template:Category handler</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Template:Category_handler&action=edit" title="Template:Category handler">view source</a>) (protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Template:Citation_needed" title="Template:Citation needed">Template:Citation needed</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Template:Citation_needed&action=edit" title="Template:Citation needed">view source</a>) (protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Template:Cite_book" title="Template:Cite book">Template:Cite book</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Template:Cite_book&action=edit" title="Template:Cite book">view source</a>) (protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Template:Cite_magazine" title="Template:Cite magazine">Template:Cite magazine</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Template:Cite_magazine&action=edit" title="Template:Cite magazine">view source</a>) (protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Template:Cite_news" title="Template:Cite news">Template:Cite news</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Template:Cite_news&action=edit" title="Template:Cite news">view source</a>) (protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Template:Cite_press_release" title="Template:Cite press release">Template:Cite press release</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Template:Cite_press_release&action=edit" title="Template:Cite press release">view source</a>) (protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Template:Cite_web" title="Template:Cite web">Template:Cite web</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Template:Cite_web&action=edit" title="Template:Cite web">view source</a>) (protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Template:Cn" class="mw-redirect" title="Template:Cn">Template:Cn</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Template:Cn&action=edit" class="mw-redirect" title="Template:Cn">view source</a>) (template editor protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Template:DMCA" class="mw-redirect" title="Template:DMCA">Template:DMCA</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Template:DMCA&action=edit" class="mw-redirect" title="Template:DMCA">view source</a>) (template editor protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Template:Dated_maintenance_category" title="Template:Dated maintenance category">Template:Dated maintenance category</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Template:Dated_maintenance_category&action=edit" title="Template:Dated maintenance category">view source</a>) (template editor protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Template:Dated_maintenance_category_(articles)" title="Template:Dated maintenance category (articles)">Template:Dated maintenance category (articles)</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Template:Dated_maintenance_category_(articles)&action=edit" title="Template:Dated maintenance category (articles)">view source</a>) (template editor protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Template:Delink" title="Template:Delink">Template:Delink</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Template:Delink&action=edit" title="Template:Delink">view source</a>) (protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Template:FULLROOTPAGENAME" title="Template:FULLROOTPAGENAME">Template:FULLROOTPAGENAME</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Template:FULLROOTPAGENAME&action=edit" title="Template:FULLROOTPAGENAME">view source</a>) (template editor protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Template:Find_sources_mainspace" title="Template:Find sources mainspace">Template:Find sources mainspace</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Template:Find_sources_mainspace&action=edit" title="Template:Find sources mainspace">view source</a>) (template editor protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Template:Fix" title="Template:Fix">Template:Fix</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Template:Fix&action=edit" title="Template:Fix">view source</a>) (protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Template:Fix/category" title="Template:Fix/category">Template:Fix/category</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Template:Fix/category&action=edit" title="Template:Fix/category">view source</a>) (protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Template:Hlist/styles.css" title="Template:Hlist/styles.css">Template:Hlist/styles.css</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Template:Hlist/styles.css&action=edit" title="Template:Hlist/styles.css">view source</a>) (protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Template:Main" title="Template:Main">Template:Main</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Template:Main&action=edit" title="Template:Main">view source</a>) (template editor protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Template:Main_article" class="mw-redirect" title="Template:Main article">Template:Main article</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Template:Main_article&action=edit" class="mw-redirect" title="Template:Main article">view source</a>) (template editor protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Template:Main_other" title="Template:Main other">Template:Main other</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Template:Main_other&action=edit" title="Template:Main other">view source</a>) (protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Template:More_citations_needed" title="Template:More citations needed">Template:More citations needed</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Template:More_citations_needed&action=edit" title="Template:More citations needed">view source</a>) (template editor protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Template:Navbox" title="Template:Navbox">Template:Navbox</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Template:Navbox&action=edit" title="Template:Navbox">view source</a>) (template editor protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Template:Ns_has_subpages" title="Template:Ns has subpages">Template:Ns has subpages</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Template:Ns_has_subpages&action=edit" title="Template:Ns has subpages">view source</a>) (protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Template:Pagetype" title="Template:Pagetype">Template:Pagetype</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Template:Pagetype&action=edit" title="Template:Pagetype">view source</a>) (protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Template:Portal" title="Template:Portal">Template:Portal</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Template:Portal&action=edit" title="Template:Portal">view source</a>) (protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Template:Redirect" title="Template:Redirect">Template:Redirect</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Template:Redirect&action=edit" title="Template:Redirect">view source</a>) (template editor protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Template:Reflist" title="Template:Reflist">Template:Reflist</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Template:Reflist&action=edit" title="Template:Reflist">view source</a>) (protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Template:Reflist/styles.css" title="Template:Reflist/styles.css">Template:Reflist/styles.css</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Template:Reflist/styles.css&action=edit" title="Template:Reflist/styles.css">view source</a>) (protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Template:SDcat" title="Template:SDcat">Template:SDcat</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Template:SDcat&action=edit" title="Template:SDcat">view source</a>) (protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Template:See_also" title="Template:See also">Template:See also</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Template:See_also&action=edit" title="Template:See also">view source</a>) (template editor protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Template:Short_description" title="Template:Short description">Template:Short description</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Template:Short_description&action=edit" title="Template:Short description">view source</a>) (protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Template:Short_description/lowercasecheck" title="Template:Short description/lowercasecheck">Template:Short description/lowercasecheck</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Template:Short_description/lowercasecheck&action=edit" title="Template:Short description/lowercasecheck">view source</a>) (protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Template:Software_distribution" title="Template:Software distribution">Template:Software distribution</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Template:Software_distribution&action=edit" title="Template:Software distribution">edit</a>) </li><li><a href="/wiki/Template:Use_dmy_dates" title="Template:Use dmy dates">Template:Use dmy dates</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Template:Use_dmy_dates&action=edit" title="Template:Use dmy dates">view source</a>) (template editor protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Module:Anchor" title="Module:Anchor">Module:Anchor</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Module:Anchor&action=edit" title="Module:Anchor">view source</a>) (template editor protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Module:Arguments" title="Module:Arguments">Module:Arguments</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Module:Arguments&action=edit" title="Module:Arguments">view source</a>) (protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Module:Category_handler" title="Module:Category handler">Module:Category handler</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Module:Category_handler&action=edit" title="Module:Category handler">view source</a>) (protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Module:Category_handler/blacklist" title="Module:Category handler/blacklist">Module:Category handler/blacklist</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Module:Category_handler/blacklist&action=edit" title="Module:Category handler/blacklist">view source</a>) (protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Module:Category_handler/config" title="Module:Category handler/config">Module:Category handler/config</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Module:Category_handler/config&action=edit" title="Module:Category handler/config">view source</a>) (protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Module:Category_handler/data" title="Module:Category handler/data">Module:Category handler/data</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Module:Category_handler/data&action=edit" title="Module:Category handler/data">view source</a>) (protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Module:Category_handler/shared" title="Module:Category handler/shared">Module:Category handler/shared</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Module:Category_handler/shared&action=edit" title="Module:Category handler/shared">view source</a>) (protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Module:Check_for_unknown_parameters" title="Module:Check for unknown parameters">Module:Check for unknown parameters</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Module:Check_for_unknown_parameters&action=edit" title="Module:Check for unknown parameters">view source</a>) (protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Module:Citation/CS1" title="Module:Citation/CS1">Module:Citation/CS1</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Module:Citation/CS1&action=edit" title="Module:Citation/CS1">view source</a>) (protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Module:Citation/CS1/COinS" title="Module:Citation/CS1/COinS">Module:Citation/CS1/COinS</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Module:Citation/CS1/COinS&action=edit" title="Module:Citation/CS1/COinS">view source</a>) (protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration" title="Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration">Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration&action=edit" title="Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration">view source</a>) (protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Module:Citation/CS1/Date_validation" title="Module:Citation/CS1/Date validation">Module:Citation/CS1/Date validation</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Module:Citation/CS1/Date_validation&action=edit" title="Module:Citation/CS1/Date validation">view source</a>) (protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Module:Citation/CS1/Identifiers" title="Module:Citation/CS1/Identifiers">Module:Citation/CS1/Identifiers</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Module:Citation/CS1/Identifiers&action=edit" title="Module:Citation/CS1/Identifiers">view source</a>) (protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Module:Citation/CS1/Utilities" title="Module:Citation/CS1/Utilities">Module:Citation/CS1/Utilities</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Module:Citation/CS1/Utilities&action=edit" title="Module:Citation/CS1/Utilities">view source</a>) (protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Module:Citation/CS1/Whitelist" title="Module:Citation/CS1/Whitelist">Module:Citation/CS1/Whitelist</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Module:Citation/CS1/Whitelist&action=edit" title="Module:Citation/CS1/Whitelist">view source</a>) (protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css" title="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css">Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css&action=edit" title="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css">view source</a>) (protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Module:Delink" title="Module:Delink">Module:Delink</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Module:Delink&action=edit" title="Module:Delink">view source</a>) (protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Module:Disambiguation/templates" title="Module:Disambiguation/templates">Module:Disambiguation/templates</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Module:Disambiguation/templates&action=edit" title="Module:Disambiguation/templates">view source</a>) (protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Module:Find_sources" title="Module:Find sources">Module:Find sources</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Module:Find_sources&action=edit" title="Module:Find sources">view source</a>) (template editor protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Module:Find_sources/config" title="Module:Find sources/config">Module:Find sources/config</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Module:Find_sources/config&action=edit" title="Module:Find sources/config">view source</a>) (template editor protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Module:Find_sources/links" title="Module:Find sources/links">Module:Find sources/links</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Module:Find_sources/links&action=edit" title="Module:Find sources/links">view source</a>) (template editor protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Module:Find_sources/templates/Find_sources_mainspace" title="Module:Find sources/templates/Find sources mainspace">Module:Find sources/templates/Find sources mainspace</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Module:Find_sources/templates/Find_sources_mainspace&action=edit" title="Module:Find sources/templates/Find sources mainspace">view source</a>) (template editor protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Module:Format_link" title="Module:Format link">Module:Format link</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Module:Format_link&action=edit" title="Module:Format link">view source</a>) (template editor protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Module:Hatnote" title="Module:Hatnote">Module:Hatnote</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Module:Hatnote&action=edit" title="Module:Hatnote">view source</a>) (template editor protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Module:Hatnote/styles.css" title="Module:Hatnote/styles.css">Module:Hatnote/styles.css</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Module:Hatnote/styles.css&action=edit" title="Module:Hatnote/styles.css">view source</a>) (template editor protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Module:Hatnote_list" title="Module:Hatnote list">Module:Hatnote list</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Module:Hatnote_list&action=edit" title="Module:Hatnote list">view source</a>) (template editor protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Module:Labelled_list_hatnote" title="Module:Labelled list hatnote">Module:Labelled list hatnote</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Module:Labelled_list_hatnote&action=edit" title="Module:Labelled list hatnote">view source</a>) (template editor protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Module:Message_box" title="Module:Message box">Module:Message box</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Module:Message_box&action=edit" title="Module:Message box">view source</a>) (protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Module:Message_box/ambox.css" title="Module:Message box/ambox.css">Module:Message box/ambox.css</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Module:Message_box/ambox.css&action=edit" title="Module:Message box/ambox.css">view source</a>) (protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Module:Message_box/configuration" title="Module:Message box/configuration">Module:Message box/configuration</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Module:Message_box/configuration&action=edit" title="Module:Message box/configuration">view source</a>) (protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Module:Namespace_detect/config" title="Module:Namespace detect/config">Module:Namespace detect/config</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Module:Namespace_detect/config&action=edit" title="Module:Namespace detect/config">view source</a>) (protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Module:Namespace_detect/data" title="Module:Namespace detect/data">Module:Namespace detect/data</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Module:Namespace_detect/data&action=edit" title="Module:Namespace detect/data">view source</a>) (protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Module:Navbar" title="Module:Navbar">Module:Navbar</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Module:Navbar&action=edit" title="Module:Navbar">view source</a>) (protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Module:Navbar/configuration" title="Module:Navbar/configuration">Module:Navbar/configuration</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Module:Navbar/configuration&action=edit" title="Module:Navbar/configuration">view source</a>) (protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Module:Navbar/styles.css" title="Module:Navbar/styles.css">Module:Navbar/styles.css</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Module:Navbar/styles.css&action=edit" title="Module:Navbar/styles.css">view source</a>) (protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Module:Navbox" title="Module:Navbox">Module:Navbox</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Module:Navbox&action=edit" title="Module:Navbox">view source</a>) (template editor protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Module:Navbox/configuration" title="Module:Navbox/configuration">Module:Navbox/configuration</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Module:Navbox/configuration&action=edit" title="Module:Navbox/configuration">view source</a>) (template editor protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Module:Navbox/styles.css" title="Module:Navbox/styles.css">Module:Navbox/styles.css</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Module:Navbox/styles.css&action=edit" title="Module:Navbox/styles.css">view source</a>) (template editor protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Module:Ns_has_subpages" title="Module:Ns has subpages">Module:Ns has subpages</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Module:Ns_has_subpages&action=edit" title="Module:Ns has subpages">view source</a>) (protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Module:Pagetype" title="Module:Pagetype">Module:Pagetype</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Module:Pagetype&action=edit" title="Module:Pagetype">view source</a>) (protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Module:Pagetype/config" title="Module:Pagetype/config">Module:Pagetype/config</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Module:Pagetype/config&action=edit" title="Module:Pagetype/config">view source</a>) (protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Module:Pagetype/disambiguation" class="mw-redirect" title="Module:Pagetype/disambiguation">Module:Pagetype/disambiguation</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Module:Pagetype/disambiguation&action=edit" class="mw-redirect" title="Module:Pagetype/disambiguation">view source</a>) (protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Module:Pagetype/rfd" title="Module:Pagetype/rfd">Module:Pagetype/rfd</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Module:Pagetype/rfd&action=edit" title="Module:Pagetype/rfd">view source</a>) (protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Module:Pagetype/setindex" title="Module:Pagetype/setindex">Module:Pagetype/setindex</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Module:Pagetype/setindex&action=edit" title="Module:Pagetype/setindex">view source</a>) (protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Module:Pagetype/softredirect" title="Module:Pagetype/softredirect">Module:Pagetype/softredirect</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Module:Pagetype/softredirect&action=edit" title="Module:Pagetype/softredirect">view source</a>) (protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Module:Portal" title="Module:Portal">Module:Portal</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Module:Portal&action=edit" title="Module:Portal">view source</a>) (protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Module:Portal/images/c" title="Module:Portal/images/c">Module:Portal/images/c</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Module:Portal/images/c&action=edit" title="Module:Portal/images/c">view source</a>) (template editor protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Module:Portal/styles.css" title="Module:Portal/styles.css">Module:Portal/styles.css</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Module:Portal/styles.css&action=edit" title="Module:Portal/styles.css">view source</a>) (protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Module:Redirect_hatnote" title="Module:Redirect hatnote">Module:Redirect hatnote</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Module:Redirect_hatnote&action=edit" title="Module:Redirect hatnote">view source</a>) (template editor protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Module:SDcat" title="Module:SDcat">Module:SDcat</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Module:SDcat&action=edit" title="Module:SDcat">view source</a>) (protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Module:String" title="Module:String">Module:String</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Module:String&action=edit" title="Module:String">view source</a>) (protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Module:TableTools" title="Module:TableTools">Module:TableTools</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Module:TableTools&action=edit" title="Module:TableTools">view source</a>) (protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Module:Unsubst" title="Module:Unsubst">Module:Unsubst</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Module:Unsubst&action=edit" title="Module:Unsubst">view source</a>) (protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Module:Wikitext_Parsing" title="Module:Wikitext Parsing">Module:Wikitext Parsing</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Module:Wikitext_Parsing&action=edit" title="Module:Wikitext Parsing">view source</a>) (protected)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Module:Yesno" title="Module:Yesno">Module:Yesno</a> (<a href="/w/index.php?title=Module:Yesno&action=edit" title="Module:Yesno">view source</a>) (protected)</li></ul></div><p id="mw-returnto">Return to <a href="/wiki/Software_release_life_cycle" title="Software release life cycle">Software release life cycle</a>.</p> <noscript><img src="https://login.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAutoLogin/start?type=1x1" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border: none; position: absolute;"></noscript> <div class="printfooter" data-nosnippet="">Retrieved from "<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_release_life_cycle">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_release_life_cycle</a>"</div></div> <div id="catlinks" class="catlinks catlinks-allhidden" data-mw="interface"></div> </div> </main> </div> <div class="mw-footer-container"> <footer id="footer" class="mw-footer" > <ul id="footer-info"> </ul> <ul id="footer-places"> <li id="footer-places-privacy"><a href="https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/Policy:Privacy_policy">Privacy policy</a></li> <li id="footer-places-about"><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:About">About Wikipedia</a></li> <li id="footer-places-disclaimers"><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:General_disclaimer">Disclaimers</a></li> <li id="footer-places-contact"><a href="//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Contact_us">Contact Wikipedia</a></li> <li id="footer-places-wm-codeofconduct"><a href="https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/Policy:Universal_Code_of_Conduct">Code of Conduct</a></li> <li id="footer-places-developers"><a href="https://developer.wikimedia.org">Developers</a></li> <li id="footer-places-statslink"><a href="https://stats.wikimedia.org/#/en.wikipedia.org">Statistics</a></li> <li id="footer-places-cookiestatement"><a href="https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/Policy:Cookie_statement">Cookie statement</a></li> <li id="footer-places-mobileview"><a href="//en.m.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Software_release_life_cycle&action=edit&mobileaction=toggle_view_mobile" class="noprint stopMobileRedirectToggle">Mobile view</a></li> </ul> <ul id="footer-icons" class="noprint"> <li id="footer-copyrightico"><a href="https://wikimediafoundation.org/" class="cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--size-large cdx-button--fake-button--enabled"><img src="/static/images/footer/wikimedia-button.svg" width="84" height="29" alt="Wikimedia Foundation" loading="lazy"></a></li> <li id="footer-poweredbyico"><a href="https://www.mediawiki.org/" class="cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--size-large cdx-button--fake-button--enabled"><img src="/w/resources/assets/poweredby_mediawiki.svg" alt="Powered by MediaWiki" width="88" height="31" loading="lazy"></a></li> </ul> </footer> </div> </div> </div> <div class="vector-settings" id="p-dock-bottom"> <ul></ul> </div><script>(RLQ=window.RLQ||[]).push(function(){mw.config.set({"wgHostname":"mw-web.codfw.main-6d67bf974d-mmr5p","wgBackendResponseTime":371,"wgPageParseReport":{"limitreport":{"cputime":"0.064","walltime":"0.086","ppvisitednodes":{"value":418,"limit":1000000},"postexpandincludesize":{"value":17740,"limit":2097152},"templateargumentsize":{"value":6556,"limit":2097152},"expansiondepth":{"value":9,"limit":100},"expensivefunctioncount":{"value":0,"limit":500},"unstrip-depth":{"value":0,"limit":20},"unstrip-size":{"value":469,"limit":5000000},"entityaccesscount":{"value":0,"limit":400},"timingprofile":["100.00% 61.204 1 -total"," 99.86% 61.119 2 Template:Blocked_text"," 41.05% 25.122 2 Template:Replace"," 40.54% 24.810 1 Template:Colocationwebhost"," 36.76% 22.498 1 Template:Hidden"," 15.40% 9.425 1 Template:Tlx"," 15.25% 9.331 1 Template:Hidden_begin"," 2.48% 1.517 1 MediaWiki:Wikimedia-globalblocking-blockedtext-mistake"," 2.31% 1.413 1 Template:Hidden_end"," 1.59% 0.972 1 MediaWiki:Wikimedia-globalblocking-blockedtext-mistake-email-steward"]},"scribunto":{"limitreport-timeusage":{"value":"0.013","limit":"10.000"},"limitreport-memusage":{"value":1043350,"limit":52428800}},"cachereport":{"origin":"mw-web.codfw.main-6d67bf974d-mmr5p","timestamp":"20241127235529","ttl":2592000,"transientcontent":false}}});});</script> </body> </html>