Software Release Cycle #

The following flowchart shows a typical software release cycle.

Notice the following milestones!

Development Release #

While the app is in active development, each iteration cycle ends with a development release! At this stage, only the developers (and other select stakeholders such as the product manager) have access to the deployed app.

Alpha Release #

Alpha is an important milestone that you accomplish as a team while developing software. In this stage, the application's core features are working (although they may not be refined). The majority of the must-have features have been implemented.

Once the Alpha stage has been met, the team then extensively tests and refine the features along with other elements to improve the fidelity and meet the software design requirements.

After the Alpha stage, the development heads to Beta release.

Beta Release #

A Beta phase begins when the software is feature complete (all must-have requirements are implemented). You must polish the user interface, improve the performance, and fix the known bugs. (The beta-release software may contain some known bugs.)

The beta release is typically the first time that the software is available outside of the organization that developed it. Beta version software is useful for demonstrations and previews to prospective customers. In fact, it is often referred to as a "preview release" or "early access."

Version-1 Release #

Version-1 release is your Minimum Viable Product or MVP! The MVP has enough value (features) that customers want to start using it. It also hints at what you will produce in the future to keep customers interested.