Kronos wrote:
Some say "beta" is something that has all mayor features and only a
relative low number of bugs&quirks to be resolved.
That's the most useful definition, IMO. I believe it's the most common too.
"Everything has to be at least implemented according to planned specs. Done. Now let's kick its tyres a bit."
Regarding beta testing of separate modules/parts, I don't think that is the same as beta testing of the whole product/suite that those parts eventually are supposed to be integrated with some day. It looks like exaggerated straining of definitions. For example, I wouldn't say I'm beta testing "Fedora Core 4" just because I'm using GNOME 2.10-beta with a Fedora Core 3 installation, instead of the FC3 default GNOME 2.8. And I wouldn't say I'm beta testing "GNOME 2.10" if I'm using GNOME 2.8 with a module or app that wasn't included with 2.8.
It's just a bunch of numbers anyway, what matters is what's implemented and when it's implemented and available.
