In which Dreamwidth is not Microsoft

[branchandroot]

So, as Dreamwidth approaches the next big production step, I thought it would be worthwhile to make a post about this thing that comes next.

Next is open beta.

Open beta is NOT site launch.

Contrary to what Microsoft has tried to train the public to think for lo these many long years, "open beta" does not equal "stable product". Open beta is the smoke test. It's when we say "this seems pretty stable and the big things are done, it's time to load it up and jump up and down on it and see where the smoke comes out so we can fix that before actual product launch".

Site launch, in another handful of months, is what will declare "yes, this product is stable". Site launch is where we say "okay, this is a (though not the because we keep developing) stable product, this is version 1.0, we're open for all public business".

So, for those who are thinking of coming in during open beta, remember, not everything will be done. Not everything will work. It is just about certain that we will break something as we jump up and down on it at full load. Because that's what open beta means.

Come ahead, intrepid testers and explorers! Just remember this is not Microsoft and no one is pretending that it's all done and ready yet.

Comments

Here via meta_roundup

[blnchflr]

Eh, it's not like Microsoft's finished products ever meant "stable product", *recalls Vista going down every 1½ day for weeks on end, until they issued a patch*.

But it's important to be clear about open beta being open BETA - I can imagine people who really would prefer to stay at LJ could get pissy about things not working at DW during this time, because they haven't read/understood it properly.

Re: Here via meta_roundup

[branchandroot]

*wry* Ain't that the truth.

*nodnod* But, yes. If people are expecting "finished product" on April 30th, they'll be disappointed, and I'd like that not to happen. It's a gloriously wonderful project, but rewriting the LJ base code doesn't happen overnight!

Via Meta Roundup

[the_willow.insanejournal.com]

I think it's good to point out that DW is also not Google. Google still counts itself as being in Beta. There are many products that have beta up in the corner of the Google brand symbol.

Google finagles to be in beta for legal reasons, and as an easy excuse for stuff. We've all had gmail for what - 5 yrs now? And it's still Beta. Even though invite codes aren't needed anymore - people still earn them, they way they would in any other open Beta.

This is not what DW is doing. So it's yet another reason people shouldn't expect Beta to be without any problems what so ever.

Re: Via Meta Roundup

[branchandroot]

A very good point. You have to wonder how many Google users now have banner-blindness for anything saying "beta"!