Alpha beta gamma testing in software

Gamma Testing: Gamma Testing is done when software is ready for release with specified requirements, this testing done directly by skipping all the in-house testing activities.

About the Author: Logica. Related Posts. December 6th, 0 Comments. November 10th, 0 Comments. Automation in e-learning can revolutionize the learning experience. September 27th, 0 Comments. Go to Top. This type of testing provides better view about the reliability of the software at an early stage.

It also helps to simulate real time user behavior and environment, and ability to provide early detection of errors with respect to design and functionality. You would even be able to detect many of the serious issues quite easily during the alpha test, because other minor design structures are yet to be integrated. This testing ensures that the user will get high quality services in the form of complete functionalities and stability.

The most widely recognized requirement is that the software provided to the user should work appropriately according to the purpose for which it is created. Conducting alpha tests will reveal whether the software has all these necessary features to pass the strict quality standards set by customer.

Beta testing can be called pre-release testing. It can be conducted with a limited number of end users called beta testers before the official product delivery. There are two types of beta testing- Open beta and Closed Data. During beta testing, end users detect and report bugs they have found. All the testing activities are performed outside the organization that has developed the product. Beta testing helps to identify the gaps between the stage of requirements gathering and also their implementation.

The product that has passed beta testing is called beta release. Opportunity to get your application into the hands of users prior to releasing it to the general public. Beta testers can identify issues with your application that you may have not noticed, such as confusing application flow, and even crashes.

One can perform a Gamma Testing when software is ready for release with specified requirements. This testing is performed directly by skipping all the in-house testing activities. The software is almost ready for final release. No feature development or enhancement of the software is undertaken and tightly scoped bug fixes are the only code. Gamma testing is the third level of testing, performed generally for safety. Tragically, Gamma testing is becoming a thing of the past, killed off by decreased time cycles, competitive pressure, and the myopic focus on quarterly benefits.

Beta The software is complete enough for external testing -- that is, by groups outside the organization or community that developed the software.

Beta software is usually feature complete, but may have known limitations or bugs. Betas are either closed private and limited to a specific set of users, or they can be open to the general public.

Release Candidate aka gamma or delta The software is almost ready for final release. No feature development or enhancement of the software is undertaken; tightly scoped bug fixes are the only code you're allowed to write in this phase, and even then only for the most heinous and debilitating of bugs. One of the most experienced software developers I ever worked with characterized the release candidate development phase thusly: "does this bug kill small children?

That we know of. There are probably numerous lower-prority bugs triaged into the next point release or service pack, as well. These phases all sound perfectly familiar to me, although there are two clear trends: The definition of beta grows more all-encompassing and elastic every year. We are awfully eager to throw alpha quality code over the wall to external users and testers.