Developing and bringing a technical product to market is a collaborative effort that involves various testing phases, such as Alpha Testing, Closed Beta Testing, Open Beta Testing, and Public Launch. Understanding the differences between these stages is crucial for our collective success in software development and distribution .
Testing
- A small group of internal employees typically carries out Alpha Testing to test a Minimum Viable Product (MVP). Together, they acknowledge that although the product requires significant improvement and may only include a portion of the planned features for the final version, it should function in principle.
- Closed Beta Testing is the next phase following alpha testing, typically involving a larger test group that may include friends and family. This stage allows for feedback on the user interface, experience improvements, and any bug fixes addressed since the initial alpha testing. Closed beta testing can also serve as a stress test to assess the product's scalability with more users.
- The product is available for public signup during Open Beta Testing, allowing developers to gather community feedback and make final adjustments before the official release. Bugs that remain at this stage are typically non-critical and have already been identified for fixing.
Public Launch
Once all planned product features are working as intended, the product can move to a public launch. In the past, a product launch used to signify the end of development, but in today's rapidly changing technology landscape, a product is never truly finished. Most supported apps receive regular software upgrades to improve performance and user experience. Just as the Switch Reward Card will undergo continuous progress, Element United products will also have planned updates, improvements, performance enhancements, and new features to meet the evolving needs of users.
