Software Testing Company: Alpha vs Beta Testing
Any software product is obligatory tested before being released. Usually, the software is considered to be ready for production after planning and executing the official testing strategy on it. In most cases, on completion of the formal testing phases it is time to start Alpha and Beta testing. This procedure is often performed by a software testing company.
Alpha tests are run previous to the software release to the target audience. For the most part, the developers use white box test techniques while doing the Alpha tests. Afterwards they carry out subsequent grey box and black box techniques.
These are necessary to simulate real users and perform operations and tasks they might do. Typically, the actual Alpha tests can be run in a lab, not necessarily in the usual working areas. Only successful completion of the techniques may be the guarantee of the Alpha testing completion.
Alpha testing is followed by Beta testing that is the next phase of testing process. Alpha testing is carried out only by the company’s staff while Beta testing can be done by third parties, namely by people working for another organization.
The process is aimed at thorough checking before selling the product to the customer, because in this stage the software may have bugs therefore it is made available only to the users selected outside the company.
Beta testing companies are often used to outsource testing of the software to get feedback on it prior to its distribution to a broad audience. An outsourced partner can give independent feedback and from different point of view, other than personnel of a software development company. The assessment may be helpful in repairing hidden defects, gathering support teams for pending issues, etc.
Sometimes, the generic public will get access to the software Beta releases. Due to this, it is possible to obtain objective information for systems/software products that are dependent on acceptable performance.
A public Beta test is performed by using the techniques that are frequently limited to black box testing techniques.The reason for this is that the audience lacks inside knowledge of the software code being tested and that the goal of Beta testing is perpetrate an elaborate check as well as receive the customer’s feedback on how to use the software in real world.
Software testing services range from specialized testing including Alpha and Beta tests to custom validation, process consulting and QA outsourcing.
Different segments of the people are often anxious to participate in running Beta tests, since it allows them to be familiar with the products prior to their public distribution.
