v9.0.3 Public Beta 2

[cbarling]

It's all doable, but it would take time. As has been said, it's certainly possible to change things so that two different maintenance releases can co-exist. But we would still have to deal with license issues (if two copies can co-exist with the same key, that would allow multiple sites with one key), and also multiple instances (if someone accidentally starts two instances, we normally want the second to be prevented from starting).

So it's simply the usual case of priorites. If we do this, something else has to wait.

Having said that, there are a number of benefits from being able to run multiple versions, including the point about beta testing but also the issue for web designers whose customers are on different versions and who therefore need to support multiple versions. Also Actinic have the same problem internally.

Another thing to think about.

Chris

[RuralWeb]

including the point about beta testing

Most people will beta test on an old system but then switch to thier main PC when the release is finalised. Usually this is completely different spec eg vista from the test machine and encounter problems that did not show in thier beta testing

[chris ashdown]

Instead of version 9.xxxx it could just be "Actinic Beta" and therefore be usable for all new releases and maybe only enable upload to the test area of your server, so that it could not be used as a online store and easily monitored by actinic if anyone did by google the acatalog test sites

[leehack]

Typical example Chris is that i currently have 2x V902 builds on the go on my main machine. This machine houses my photoshop and Dreamweaver etc. and in order to really test the beta i want it on this, my everyday machine. I either have to load the beta onto a Vista laptop (desktop is XP Pro) or i have to upgrade the current 2x 902 builds i am doing and cross my fingers that you do a full release by the time i have finished. That is why it becomes a pain in the ass and is currently stopping me from beta testing. Had this problem been solved, I would be on beta now and your beta tester numbers would be 1 stronger.

Would stopping the ability for orders to be downloaded be viable? At worst you will have people abusing the software as a CMS system then?

I fully understand you have other things to focus on too, i think long term this would have a real positive effect on the testing procedure though and worth having pretty high status in the melting pot.

EDIT: I like Cashdowns idea of actinic beta and this is just the latest single beta version on your machine.

[malbro]

Instead of version 9.xxxx it could just be "Actinic Beta" and therefore be usable for all new releases and maybe only enable upload to the test area of your server, so that it could not be used as a online store and easily monitored by actinic if anyone did by google the acatalog test sites

Gets my vote, like many others I use a separate PC to run the beta so my results are not directly comparable with the working system. Not so sure about the Actinic Server though as using lots of different servers gets better results for Actinic.

[chris ashdown]

Sorry malcome , did not mean "actinic's server" but your own server but in the same position as the present test facility is when you select "switch to test mode"

[malbro]

Sorry malcome , did not mean "actinic's server" but your own server but in the same position as the present test facility is when you select "switch to test mode"

I think I misread your post

[Steve G Griggs]

Beta test version

Hi.
I am currently doing a beta test on a spare machine with an apache web server set up to host the beta test website, can I put the files for the zip compression on this server to test them , if so are there any instructions for doing so? I have downloaded the files but so far can't find the instructions to install them to test with the beta.

[Rich Brady]

This may be a very simplistic take on this topic and I'm well aware that some p**s taking may follow, hell I'm used to it

If Actinic were to go down the line of creating a beta install as Chris A has suggested that will allow us to test along side an existing release, Great!

We then do our best to break it but after several weeks no bugs were found and actinic decide to release said beta version.

Surely though, they will have to make changes to that beta version for it then to be downloaded and overwrite/replace our existing version. Therefore not exactly being the version we have spent weeks testing.

I'm sure people with far more knowledge of software programming will tell me that it would be such a small difference away from the actual workings of Actinic that would have been changed, but the fact remains that Actinic will be releasing a version that we have not tested!

IMO

*Hides under desk*

[gabrielcrowe]

you can run unlimited versions of actinic through a vmware or virtual pc system.

*please* dont spend time making the app polygamous spend time making it good.

the systems of visualization are all but free nowadays, please dont ignore them as a serious testing tool.

[gabrielcrowe]

having installed the new beta on both the mac (vmware) and a pc, i can tell you that it has imported the madness that is www.interact-studio.co.uk very well. no errors, in fact, it fixed a few.

[Steve G Griggs]

Beta test

I have to report it works well on vista with a vastly improved upload time, even without the server extensions. No errors at all in the upgrade process. Having a problem with my localhost apache server, but I'm sure that's a problem with the server settings rather than Actinic, as using test mode on our regular web server works fine.

[malbro]

T
Surely though, they will have to make changes to that beta version for it then to be downloaded and overwrite/replace our existing version. Therefore not exactly being the version we have spent weeks testing.

you can come out from under the desk now, after twenty years in software development I can confirm you are quite right. The number of times I have said, it will not be a problem, when related to a simple change and been proved wrong leads me to agree with the sentiment.

Any change, no matter how small, can have an undesired effect, and the development team are always going to have the desire to make that little adjustment to sort out ..... Been there done it and scars still show.

That said I still think there is a benefit in the approach as it would allow more people to beta test on real environments.

[Rich Brady]

you can come out now.

w00t, good because I'm starving

[Darren B]

w00t, good because I'm starving

I think he ment out as in "OUT"