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MS: Beta Software Good Enough for Production Use

Posted by timothy on from the not-like-they-indemnify-you-for-damages-anyhow dept.

RMX writes "CNet is reporting that Microsoft is starting to license test software for real-world use . In particular, Visual Studio 2005 and the April "community technology preview" of SQL Server 2005 are both supposed to be released sometime in the second half of the year. But Microsoft is claiming the pre-release versions are stable already, so they're licensing the pre-released versions on the grounds that they 'are already suitable for running production business applications.'"

21 of 411 comments (clear)

  1. Accountability by fembots · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Didn't Google start all this?

    The main thing is, if something breaks, the company just puts its hands up and says "opps, sorry it's a Beta", and I bet there will still be plenty of users (businesses) who are willing try them.

    In addition to the accountability shift, companies can roll out patches in a more timely fashion. With beta-security-patch, MS is free to distribute patches to plug holes even on a daily basis.

    --
    Rock that crushes, Paper & Scissors that don't matter.
    1. Re:Accountability by NeoSkandranon · · Score: 5, Insightful

      if something breaks, the company just puts its hands up and says "opps, sorry..."

      Doesn't Microsoft (and indeed most software comapnies) do that with *all* their products?

      --
      If you can't see the value in jet powered ants you should turn in your nerd card. - Dunbal (464142)
    2. Re:Accountability by RevDobbs · · Score: 4, Insightful

      My first reaction was "I think what Bill G is really saying is 'our realeses suck ass anyway, just buck up and pay to be a beta tester'." But after readting the article:

      ...Microsoft will release updates every six to eight weeks until the product is finished, said Tom Rizzo, director of product management for SQL Server.

      ...Because of the change in the license and the quality of the code, Microsoft expects 50,000 customers to move production applications onto the beta versions of Visual Studio 2005 and the .Net Framework, the software needed to run applications.

      Oh, I get it... five years ago every body signed annual licence contracts, paid out the whazoo to get the next version 'free', but the next versions never came out. So now we have a new license where you get to spend a lot of money, and this time you really really will get some updates!

    3. Re:Accountability by ergo98 · · Score: 5, Insightful
      The difference is that Google isn't selling license of it's beta products.

      Where, exactly, is Microsoft selling licenses?

      This sort of story should have been declined by the editors because it is exactly what makes Slashdot bad- It's a bunch of inflammatory pseudo-facts taken out of context and incorrectly presented to get the anti-M$ minions riles up so they can spread the FUD far and wide.

      In reality Microsoft heavily discourages use of the beta software for production, but they realize that that...

      1. A lot of customers really like the new features, and for that internal site they're will to take the stability hit if it lets them use master pages and some of the other new features. For many firms the stability and API insecurity is worth the risk. We're all professionals, right?
      2. Those customers were going to do it anyway


      Due to this, they make you agree to a Go Live License that makes very sure that you realize that you're working with a beta, and presumably that you've tested your product thoroughly to ensure it meets the stability and security requirements for your product - it's your responsibility.

      One other note - I realize I'm not going to convince anyone in this crowd, however Microsoft's beta 2 products have been of remarkably high quality over the past several years. I'm sure I'll get the standard don't-threaten-my-illusion troll mods, however VS.Net 2005 beta 2 has a stability and quality level equalling or surpassing most or all of its competitors, on any platform.
  2. spyware beta by towaz · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I wish they would just hurry up and push windows antispyware down with windows update. I know its not the best out; but it would stop 90% of support calls because some idiot has a pr0n dialer.

    --
    "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." - Voltaire
  3. I agree... by bogaboga · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Just look at Google's email service (still in beta). It works like a charm. The same applied to Adobe's Linux PDF reader...even the [Linux] kernel itself, in most cases works, without any serious problems.

  4. Interesting day... by goMac2500 · · Score: 4, Funny

    First root is completely safe, and now beta software is fine for production environments?

  5. Re:Google too by cd_serek · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I think that pretty much goes for every software in development. The BETA is only a phase of programming. And it is not clearly defined. IMHO, all softwares remains in beta stages until they are abandoned. This is because bug-fixing and feature-adding are on-going processes, and are never fully completed.

  6. Well, before we get a little crazy here... by ndykman · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Basically, Microsoft is allowing customers, if they so choose, to develop production systems using the beta software. If they want to, and you think it's a good idea, insert usual don't come crying to us if your computer exploded boilerplate here.

    The difference is that Microsoft hasn't usually allowed beta software to be used in production usage at all. They only licensed it for test usage, which, frankly, I'm sure most people were just fine with.

    So, Microsoft is saying, well, heck, if you really want to, sign this piece paper (see disclamier list, etc, etc.) and enjoy.

    I'd be surprised if this really had any impact, but it's interesting marketing.

  7. Nothing new here. by Ridge · · Score: 4, Informative

    Microsoft had a go live license for Visual Studio 2002 as well.

  8. How much do it cost? by ShaniaTwain · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Did you pay for any of them there google betas? cause I sure didn't, and if you did some varmint mighta ripped you off.

    I also reckon you might want your database a tad bit more stable than you want your nifty little search engine doo-dad.

    --
    Starsucks
    1. Re:How much do it cost? by mingot · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Um, and the betas for VS.NET 2005 are also free (as in gratis). The only thing that has changed here is that MS is actually telling developers they can release software written with the beta versions in production environments.

      Now I can't understand why anyone would actually WANT to do this, but all they did was give people the option.

  9. Free beta CD by DigitlDud · · Score: 5, Informative

    Just FYI, you can order a FREE (no s&h) CD of Visual Studio 2005 Beta 2 here: http://msdn.microsoft.com/getthebetas/

    If you want to distribute programs you make with it, you have to sign the GoLive aggreement here: http://lab.msdn.microsoft.com/vs2005/golive/licens e/

  10. Even better... by Eric_Cartman_South_P · · Score: 4, Funny

    If you want the features in a Microsoft Beta product, you can usually get them in production quality over here -> www.apple.com

  11. Read your EULA: by Truth_Quark · · Score: 5, Insightful
    Microsoft has never accepted any accountablilty.


    And never will. Imagine the liability if they accepted responsibility for the work lost to a crash, or time spent finding a work-around for their bugs?


    It's make 5 million euros a day look postively mild!

  12. I'm confused.... by ShieldW0lf · · Score: 4, Funny

    Are we still supposed to wait for SP2, or does this mean that SP1 is the one that will be ready for production work?

    --
    -1 Uncomfortable Truth
    1. Re:I'm confused.... by dgatwood · · Score: 5, Funny
      I'm confused, too. Wasn't April Fool's Day almost three weeks ago?

      • Root is safe.
      • Beta software good enough for production use
      What's next? "Boy eats own head"?

      --

      Check out my sci-fi/humor trilogy at PatriotsBooks.

  13. Re:Soo... by Eric+Smith · · Score: 4, Interesting
    If I program something in Visual Studio 05, and there is a beta bug in it and my enterprise server app with 100000 customers fails, can I sue M$?
    Yes. The real question is whether you can win the suit and collect damages. The EULA you clicked on probably said that you can't. But did you actually read the EULA? And is it enforceable?
  14. Microsoft Business Plan by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful
    1. Release Beta quality Software
    2. Get people to Pay You to do their QA for them - ON PRODUCTION SYSTEMS !!!
    3. Profit!

    Don't mod me as funny, because this joke microsoft's pulling on its customers is not funny at all.

  15. Re:One born every minute by hkb · · Score: 4, Informative

    Yet another stupid moderation. Someone should probably point out to the parent the fact that the betas are free.

    Oh wait, nevermind. I just did.

    --
    /* Moderating all non-anonymous trolls up since 2004 */
  16. gmail by Mr.+Underbridge · · Score: 5, Insightful
    It's up to the consumer if they want to risk using a beta product (and thousands of people choose to 'risk' their e-mail with the GMail beta).

    In all fairness, the only thing still "beta" about gmail is its business model.