Software Testing - Delta Release
Software after being developed for the first time undergoes several changes as per the modifications in the requirements, specifications or change requests. Thus a software goes through several rounds of releases in order to incorporate all the new changes for the customers. A software may be partially or entirely released based on the situations. Any partial release of the software is known as its delta release.
What is Software Delta Release?
The delta release of a software points to its update with respect to the hardware or software. This update can be because of different types of factors, which if not implemented can cause failures and errors. It also includes the partial release of a component of a software.
The term delta points to any changes. Since the software is again released post some changes, it is known as the software delta release. A delta release is a specific kind of release that happens after a new feature is introduced or a particular functionality has undergone modifications after the previous release. A delta release is done once precise areas of the software are subjected to modifications. It is also known as the RC release, silver release, or the gama release.
The delta release includes both partial hardware or software changes. It includes modifications namely addition of the latest functionalities or changes in the existing ones after the last release of the software.
Why is Software Delta Release Conducted?
The modifications in the software can be due to a large number of reasons such as security, or for some parameters which affect the overall performance and robustness of the software. The software release which is conducted during the release candidate (RC) phase is known as the delta release. A software phase can be categorized into five phases namely pre-alpha phase, alpha phase, beta phase, release candidate phase, and stable phase. At the release candidate phase, a software is released to the market.
The release candidate phase is mainly focused on releasing the software to the end users or customers for the purpose of testing it and for collecting the feedback on the same. This is known as the beta testing phase. Once this phase is completed, the customers take a decision to perform either an open beta release or closed beta release. The open beta release refers to releasing the software for all the public and closed beta release refers to the releasing the software for a limited group of end users or customers.
What is a Software Release Candidate?
The release candidate is the link between the development stage and the release of the software. It enables the developers to verify the performance and functionalities of the software before it is released for all the public. Besides, it allows the usage of the software to a limited number of customers who use it and pass feedback on their experiences after using it.
In this way, those customer suggestions can be incorporated back into the software to improve its overall quality. Thus the software release candidate allows an extensive testing of the software by a limited number of customers on real environments. It also enables detection of errors before the software is finally released to the market.
Characteristics of Software Release Candidate
The characteristics of the software release candidate are listed below −
- All the features and functionalities of the software should be functional, and completed for the software before it is ready for release candidate phase. It can be done only if the software has undergone thorough testing in various platforms, environments, devices, browsers etc to ensure the intended quality of the software.
- The release candidate can be done only if the software is stable with no major bottlenecks.
- The release candidate can be done only if the software has a good overall performance, reliability and robustness.
Conclusion
This concludes our comprehensive take on the tutorial on Software Delta Release. Weve started with describing what is software delta release, why is the software delta release conducted, what is software release candidate, and what are the characteristics of the software release candidate. This equips you with in-depth knowledge of Software Delta Release. It is wise to keep practicing what youve learned and exploring others relevant to Software Testing to deepen your understanding and expand your horizons.