I'm thinking about keeping a pre-1.0 release warning on apps that a user uses to create, store or edit their personal data. 1.0 releases are technically considered development versions by most folks in the know (alpha or beta quality) but end-users may not be familiar with this fact. I'm thinking of this:
Pre-1.0 Release Note: This is pre-1.0 software and may have occasional bugs. Backing up your data regularly using the easy-to-use backup utility in the PortableApps.com Platform is recommended.
I've added it to Sunbird Portable, Lightning Extension and Task Coach Portable to get some feedback from folks and since these are the types of apps we're talking about (all of them it applies to, I think). It's not as big a deal for something like PokerTH or SumatraPDF since, if the app crashes, the user doesn't lose much.
Anyone have any thoughts? Wording changes? Like or dislike doing it at all?
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i think it's a good idea since personal data can be irreplaceable. i don't know if pre-1.0 apps necessarily more unstable than others though; it kind of differs from app to app. some apps might do their first release as 1.0 even if it's buggy and other's like infrarecorder or convertall are stable and not 1.0
Yea, the wording sounds good, it's worded so users are in the know, but it won't scare them away either.
That was exactlty my goal. Let the user know and think more about backing up without scaring them off trying the cool app we have for them just waiting for them to download.
T does have a point, though. Some apps have been around a while, have a solid dev team, have a solid app... yet still call it 0.x.
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
I was gonna comment and agree with that.
too.
PokerTH could use one too. Its pretty stable but has some occasional bug (i.e. the latest 0.6.1 version)
"What about Love?" - "Overrated. Biochemically no different than eating large quantities of chocolate." - Al Pacino in The Devils Advocate
But the user isn't gonna lose any data or anything. That's more what we're worried about. Sunbird/Lightning could mess up their calendar. Task Coach could corrupt their todo lists. If PokerTH crashes, they just have to start another game of poker.
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
and the bug is only a check box that is reversed (ie if checked it means no).
"What about Love?" - "Overrated. Biochemically no different than eating large quantities of chocolate." - Al Pacino in The Devils Advocate