open beta v. release version of DCS...which is most used?

[fitness88]

Like many I used to use the DCS beta version as my main program as I liked getting early updates, then for some reason I can't remember I switched to the release version. I take it the beta has some bugs that get ironed out with the release version. Which version are most of you using?

 

 

Thank you.

[grunf]

I use beta most of the time, ever since the 1.5 came out. I was using release only before.

 

I take it the beta has some bugs that get ironed out with the release version.

I like to think it's the other way around, that the beta irons out release version bugs :D. The truth, as usual, is somewhere in between.

[fitness88]

I use beta most of the time, ever since the 1.5 came out. I was using release only before.

 

 

I like to think it's the other way around, that the beta irons out release version bugs :D. The truth, as usual, is somewhere in between.

 

 

 

Never thought of it that way, kinda like the chicken and the egg...Very good!

[Bearfoot]

the beta irons out release version bugs

 

:megalol: :megalol: :megalol:

[Winston 60]

Release version only for me. Before the bugs can get ironed out between open beta and release, they first have to be reported by the open beta users. Often bugs aren't being found or reported by the open beta users which allows the stable version to be released a week later in a buggy condition. I'm beginning to wonder why there's even an open beta release at all any more.

 

But I'm always hoping that some bugs will get squashed between open beta release and the stable release like in the past. :(

[fitness88]

Some software companies have a dedicated beta testing group that they work with and will be offered deals that the public wouldn't be. In this case there's never a public beta release.

[cichlidfan]

Some software companies have a dedicated beta testing group ...

 

So does ED. Check the back of a manual for the list of names.

[fitness88]

So does ED. Check the back of a manual for the list of names.

 

 

 

Interesting, being the case they still offer public beta release.

[Rudel_chw]

I started using the 1.5 Openbeta when the Viggen came out, and I havent tought of going back :)

[dburne]

I have been using mostly 1.5 Open Beta, and 2.0 Open Alpha to some extent. Haven't logged much if any time in 1.5 Release version since 1.5 came out.

[OnlyforDCS]

I've stopped using the Alpha Version and the Open Beta version, to save on space. I do miss firing up Nevada every now and again, but then again I play mostly online and the most popular online servers only run the release version.

 

So I guess it depends. I want the most hassle free solution, so I've given up on getting the latest updates. The updates usually come a week or two later to release anyway.

[fitness88]

I've stopped using the Alpha Version and the Open Beta version, to save on space. I do miss firing up Nevada every now and again, but then again I play mostly online and the most popular online servers only run the release version.

 

So I guess it depends. I want the most hassle free solution, so I've given up on getting the latest updates. The updates usually come a week or two later to release anyway.

 

 

 

Thanks I didn't know the MP server for Beta and Release were not the same...good to know. I wonder how busy the Beta MP server is compared to the Release version?

[QuiGon]

Officially I'm using the beta branch only for about 2 years now, but in fact I sometimes just decline the update to a new beta patch to stay compatible to the release branch. So in fact I'm constantly jumping between release and beta as I wish.

 

I really like the simplicity of switching between different branches in DCS, either by just declining beta updates or using the launcher through the command line to switch officially between the two branches :)

[fitness88]

Officially I'm using the beta branch only for about 2 years now, but in fact I sometimes just decline the update to a new beta patch to stay compatible to the release branch. So in fact I'm constantly jumping between release and beta as I wish.

 

I really like the simplicity of switching between different branches in DCS, either by just declining beta updates or using the launcher through the command line to switch officially between the two branches :)

 

 

 

I remember there were 2 distinct installations that you could execute DCS.exe from, Release and Beta. Since changing computers lately and using an SSD I didn't want to have both if I were only going to use 1.

What is the switch command, is it controlling which execution of Beta and Release in the same folder get launched?

[Robin_Hood]

I remember there were 2 distinct installations that you could execute DCS.exe from, Release and Beta. Since changing computers lately and using an SSD I didn't want to have both if I were only going to use 1.

What is the switch command, is it controlling which execution of Beta and Release in the same folder get launched?

 

 

 

Here: https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=114030

 

 

Basically, DCS_Updater.exe update @openbeta will switch your install from whatever branch it is in, to the Open Beta one. Same with @release and @openalpha

[fitness88]

Here: https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=114030

 

 

Basically, DCS_Updater.exe update @openbeta will switch your install from whatever branch it is in, to the Open Beta one. Same with @release and @openalpha

 

 

 

Thanks Robin_Hood I'll check it out. Hey I still use my upgraded version of your ILS runway chart with some added info, really is great for NAV.

[fitness88]

Here: https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=114030

 

 

Basically, DCS_Updater.exe update @openbeta will switch your install from whatever branch it is in, to the Open Beta one. Same with @release and @openalpha

 

 

After reading the post I realize this isn't what I'm referring to. Anyone can download 1.5 release and 1.5 beta and 2.0 and use anyone of them when they choose simply by clicking on their respective dcs.exe. This of course requires the separate installation of all 3 installations. I mis-understood what was being offered by what you said and the link you sent me clarified it.

[NeilWillis]

Thanks I didn't know the MP server for Beta and Release were not the same...good to know. I wonder how busy the Beta MP server is compared to the Release version?

 

That's not strictly true. When the Beta and Release versions are the same versions (quite a lot of the time) then it doesn't matter which version you are running, you can join multiplayer sessions using either version, regardless of which branch you have installed.

 

The only real advantage of the Beta branch is that you get updates a week or maybe two ahead of the Release branch.

 

I run all 3, but use mostly the Release branch. If however a new module, or critical updates arrive, then I run the Beta or Alpha branch. Our server has all three branches running pretty much all the time too. We use the Release and Beta together to enable us to run 2 separate missions on the same server, and of course the Alpha is an entirely different environment right now.

[QuiGon]

As NeilWillis said, OpenBeta and Release branch are often on the same version, but not always. Currently they are. You can check that in the 2nd post in the thread linked above: https://forums.eagle.ru/showpost.php?p=2249076&postcount=2

Current Versions (As Of 03/31/2017):

 

The Current Release Version is : 1.5.6.1938

The Current Open Beta Version is 1.5.6.3690

The Current Open Alpha Version is: 2.0.5.3521

 

Terminology is important here because it always causes confusion regarding the different versions/branches. You have to make a difference between branch and version.

 

There are currently three public branches of the DCS software: The Open Alpha, the Open Beta and the Stable Release. Each of these branches runs on a specific version which changes with each update. While the Open Alpha branch runs on a version around 2.x, the Open Beta and Stable Release branches run on versions around 1.5.x. When a new update for 1.5 gets released it usally gets to the Open Beta first, before it is released for the Stable Release branch as well, usally 1-2 weeks later. It is these 1-2 weeks in the update cycle where the version of the Open Beta and the Stable Release branch differs and multiplayer between them is not possible, but after the Stable Release has been updated they are both running on the same version again.