topic Re: Beta testing. in Modeling

Beta testing.

Anonymous — Mon, 08 May 2006 21:58:34 GMT

I have a question about beta testing of future versions of AC. What one have to do to become a betatester of ArchiCAD?

Re: Beta testing.

Dwight — Mon, 08 May 2006 22:24:36 GMT

Make your reseller think that you are smart, curious and have time to burn.

Re: Beta testing.

Anonymous — Tue, 09 May 2006 06:39:30 GMT

and dont whine...(even if you hear the sun rises from west)

Re: Beta testing.

Dwight — Tue, 09 May 2006 07:04:31 GMT

Seriously, in addition to making yourself look like a good candidate, it never hurts to simply suggest to your reseller that you'd actually like to be a Beta tester..... but be sure that you want to give Graphisoft the effort because it is a significant time commitment.

Speaking generally, my beta testing experience (for several applications) has been frustrating rather than fun. Usually the software doesn't work very well at first, and during the beta process numerous large downloads of the updated application are necessary. It's risky because sometimes the file structure becomes archaic and re-opening files made in the beta later - after the real software is released - can be tricky - or impossible.

Then there's the features in the beta that you come to love that don't make it into the final release, and menu structures that change with each beta evolution, and the confusion of managing two versions of the same application because real work must still be conducted - in the old, now clunky version... and the add-ons aren't quite ready for the new version so where the hell is Biggles when you need him?

Re: Beta testing.

Petros Ioannou — Tue, 09 May 2006 07:14:43 GMT

I participated in Beta testing AC9 (don't know why I wasn't in 10 ) and all I can tell you is that it was fun. And it was impressive to see Ben's number of bug reports!
And I agree with Dwight that you need to have a lot of free time to partcipate and there is a chance that your schedule will not always match the schedule of the Beta test.

Petros

Re: Beta testing.

Anonymous — Tue, 09 May 2006 16:53:01 GMT

I have tested 9 and 10, sort off, and I see it as a no win situation.

Either you have a lot of free time on your hands, and you can fiddle around with the beta version, thus defeating it's purpose (try it on real work), or you are hard pressed in your office, and going beta is just too much a risk.

Of course, I only speak for myself, because from what I have seen from some peoples bug report, they really test the software to it's limits.

My advice is, if you are thinking of becoming a beta tester just for the fun of it, don't.

If, on the other hand, you are committed to ArchiCAD and want to help Graphisoft (and all of us) to have a better new version, assuming some of the work load and some of the risks, then you should have no problem talking your reseller into it.

Re: Beta testing.

Anonymous — Wed, 10 May 2006 00:15:12 GMT

oreopoulos wrote:
and dont whine...(even if you hear the sun rises from west)

It's true there's not much whining, but there is plenty of yelling, complaining, griping & groaning, grumping & moaning*.

It is a good experience if it is useful to your practice, but it is not something to do "just for the fun of it". It's too much like working without getting paid (and we know there is already too much of that in our field).

* I assume this is not privileged information. Right, Djordje?

Re: Beta testing.

Djordje — Wed, 10 May 2006 03:04:32 GMT

Matthew wrote:
oreopoulos wrote:
and dont whine...(even if you hear the sun rises from west)
It's true there's not much whining, but there is plenty of yelling, complaining, griping & groaning, grumping & moaning*.

It is a good experience if it is useful to your practice, but it is not something to do "just for the fun of it". It's too much like working without getting paid (and we know there is already too much of that in our field).

* I assume this is not privileged information. Right, Djordje?

You forgto screaming, throwing chairs through windows, name calling and virtual fistfights ...

Re: Beta testing.

Rob — Wed, 10 May 2006 06:48:54 GMT

You forgto screaming, throwing chairs through windows, name calling and virtual fistfights ...

yep, I have provoked at least one of that sort back there...

Re: Beta testing.

Petros Ioannou — Wed, 10 May 2006 06:56:40 GMT

I think you guys made it sound like labour working!
I still have to say that it is fun! It is a volunteer work so if one decides to A beta tester you should respect all the work done by GS people and help them with their product as much as you can, and be very serious about it. Besides your work will affect the way AC works for the next 18 months so if you give your best then it will pay back. It is a real job, nobody argues about that. But it is also a great experience to see a new version developed, how GS guys are responding, fixing bugs etc.

Petros

Re: Beta testing.

Rakela Raul — Wed, 10 May 2006 11:59:51 GMT

I think you guys made it sound like labour working!
I still have to say that it is fun! It is a volunteer work so if one decides to A beta tester you should respect all the work done by GS people and help them with their product as much as you can, and be very serious about it. Besides your work will affect the way AC works for the next 18 months so if you give your best then it will pay back. It is a real job, nobody argues about that. But it is also a great experience to see a new version developed, how GS guys are responding, fixing bugs etc.

it sounds like you are working on a re-hire

Re: Beta testing.

Ignacio Azpiazu — Wed, 10 May 2006 14:37:54 GMT

Petros wrote:
It is a real job, nobody argues about that.

Hm. So what is the pay?

Re: Beta testing.

TomWaltz — Wed, 10 May 2006 14:54:40 GMT

Ignacio wrote:
Petros wrote:
It is a real job, nobody argues about that.
Hm. So what is the pay?

It's volunteer.

Let's remember what Beta Testing is: Beta Testing is when the software developer thinks the program is ready for release, but may still have bugs in it that need extensive testing to find and resolve. It is not a design process and it is not a wish-list process.

In many ways, it just means having a test version that may or may not work several months before everyone else gets the one that is more likely to work than not.

Re: Beta testing.

Anonymous — Wed, 10 May 2006 16:19:51 GMT

Ok. I still would like to be a beta tester, but ... I'm working in a big company, where I don't even know who and from what reseller is purchasing Archcad for us. Who should I talk to about betatesting then ?

Re: Beta testing.

Jefferson — Thu, 11 May 2006 03:00:03 GMT

Miki,

Ask your CAD manager, they ought to know where your AC seats come from..........might even impress him-her in the process with your eager attitude!

And after checking out your portfolio QT file..........it appears you have the time, and, U B Qualified! Very impressive Miki

Re: Beta testing.

Anonymous — Thu, 11 May 2006 18:37:33 GMT

Thanks Jeff. Will do.