Why would someone chose for or against using the beta version of L4 (windows)?

I'll be the first to admit that I am a novice at best when it comes to understaning the ins and outs of beta versions of any program. I see on many threads reference to downloading beta (something I don't even know how to do). Some talk about beta capabilities with great satisfacation where as some see the word beta as just another 4-letter word to be avoided.

But my question is this: what are some reasons a user would want to download and use the beta version of L4? And similarly, what are some reasons to stay clear of beta and just wait for the official release?

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John Fidel

For: participate in the development and debugging; preview upcoming features.

Not: could crash your system, require reinstall, reindexing etc.

Rich DeRuiter

But my question is this: what are some reasons a user would want to download and use the beta version of L4? And similarly, what are some reasons to stay clear of beta and just wait for the official release?

Using the beta gives us an opportunity to test what Logos is working on and hopes will work as planned. This means that if something doesn't work, we find it, report it, and this gives Logos the opportunity to fix things before a regular release ('pushed' to everyone).

The advantages to us is that we get ahead of the curve and get the newest things before the general release. The advantage to the Logos community is that when a stable version is released, it should work almost everywhere.

The reason to stay clear of a beta is that sometimes a 'fix' in one part of the program can break another. This has happened in the beta program but it's rare, and Logos usually fixes it quickly. If you have only one computer, and having Logos working is critical to you, you may want to stay clear of the beta program. If you have a second computer that you can leave as a standard release, then you can be fairly confident that even if the beta breaks something, you can use your second computer for your work (this is what I've done) -- although syncing between a beta and non-beta can potentially cause problems too.

I've tried beta releases in L3 and L4 with very few problems. During the last one, I waited until they were on Beta 2, partly because I was busy, and partly because the early betas are the most unstable. By beta 2 many things were quickly fixed.

Oh, I also never join a beta program on a Friday, since my weekends are when I spend the most time in Logos.

Jack Caviness

what are some reasons a user would want to download and use the beta version of L4?

Get at the new features sooner. In my case the current Beta included Prayer List and Parallel Resource Collections.

what are some reasons to stay clear of beta and just wait for the official release?

Stability. For Logos, the purpose of the Beta is to find & squash bugs in the software. With a Beta you can experience crashes and even data corruption. That being said, the current Beta is at B-12 and is quite stable.

Rev. Dr. Lloyd S. Wicker

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/100531#Comment_100531

Oh, I also never join a beta program on a Friday, since my weekends are when I spend the most time in Logos.

That is wisdom if I've ever heard it. I don't know what Sunday would be like without Logos on Friday. Wow, I guess I'm offically an addict!

So, you can put the beta on one computer but not on the other? What might work well for me is to have the beta version on my desktop at home and leave the regular version on my laptop which I use in my study...and home in some cases. Would that allow me to be part of the beta community but be able to keep my laptop for those times when I really need a dependable Logos available?

Rich DeRuiter

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/100534#Comment_100534

Oh, I also never join a beta program on a Friday, since my weekends are when I spend the most time in Logos.

That is wisdom if I've ever heard it. I don't know what Sunday would be like without Logos on Friday. Wow, I guess I'm offically an addict!

So, you can put the beta on one computer but not on the other? What might work well for me is to have the beta version on my desktop at home and leave the regular version on my laptop which I use in my study...and home in some cases. Would that allow me to be part of the beta community but be able to keep my laptop for those times when I really need a dependable Logos available?

This is what I've done.

But note that my 2nd computer (my laptop) synchronizes with my desktop. This means that my highlighting and notes all moved over to the machine with 4.0a on it. This hasn't broken the 2nd computer's L4, but it's possible that an update to one system might adversely effect the other. So far this hasn't been an issue, and 4.0b has been quite stable.

I'm just saying...

(BTW, just in case you didn't notice: today is Friday.)

Jack Caviness

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/100534#Comment_100534

Would that allow me to be part of the beta community but be able to keep my laptop for those times when I really need a dependable Logos available?

Yes, except for the possibility that synch between the Beta and the released version could cause a problem, but this is very rare. At present I am running Windows Beta and the Mac Alpha on two machines without any cross-pollution.

Rev. Dr. Lloyd S. Wicker

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/100536#Comment_100536

(BTW, just in case you didn't notice: today is Friday.)

Yes it is! And thanks be to God that the sermons for Sunday are done! [:D]

TCBlack

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/100538#Comment_100538

(BTW, just in case you didn't notice: today is Friday.)

Yes it is! And thanks be to God that the sermons for Sunday are done!

Hmm, nope. I still have one more to finish. Back at it.

BillS

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/100534#Comment_100534

I guess I'm offically an addict!

And that gets into the strongest reason of all for participating in beta. Beta itself is addicting... so much so that someone named it "Compulsive Beta Disorder", or CBD... with apologies to the real CBD, of course. One of the symptoms of CBD is an increasing nervousness as a new beta / release approaches... punctuated by a compulsive typing of "Update Now" into L4. [8-|]

Bohuslav Wojnar

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/100557#Comment_100557

I still have one more to finish. Back at it.

I am not preparing any sermon today because I am in Palermo, Sicily at the committee meetings :-) So I am ready for another Beta, Logos, just bring it on... :-)

Fred Chapman

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/100568#Comment_100568

Let me add some comments regarding lessons learned with Beta testing.

Since I did not have another computer I made the decision to use the Beta on my only computer. I know, I know...call it faith, or call it stupidity. Everything was fine until I crashed. Then I had to completely remove everything associated with L4 and do a complete reinstall. Since that time I also picked up a Netbook and to feed the addiction BillS was talking about I loaded the latest Beta on it.

While the Betas are usually pretty stable and usable, I will not make the same mistake twice. I might also add that I completely ignored all the advice from Logos and the other Beta users when I installed it on my only machine. Thought I had gotten over on them until I saw those heartwrenching words on that faded screen "Logos 4 has stopped working". That was a long weekend.

Jack Caviness

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/100568#Comment_100568

I am in Palermo, Sicily

Now that triggered memories of long, long ago port calls there back in my drunken sailor days. [:D] Fortunately, the Lord removed the drunken part.

BillS

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/100586#Comment_100586

Everything was fine until I crashed.

Hi Fred,

Since I'm keeping L3 installed until L4 has all its functionality (or it stops working), I've just considered L3 as my backup system & haven't worried about beta...

Blessings!

Bohuslav Wojnar

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/100698#Comment_100698

Everything was fine until I crashed.

Hi Fred,

Since I'm keeping L3 installed until L4 has all its functionality (or it stops working), I've just considered L3 as my backup system & haven't worried about beta...

Blessings!

Yes, that's also my backup option in case I need to work and Logos Beta would crash. It have never happened the way it would not restart again, at least so far. I love Beta, I love the feeling to be on the edge :-)

P.S. If only all being on the edge would be that easy :-)

Tom Reynolds

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/100528#Comment_100528

Not: could crash your system, require reinstall, reindexing etc.

Is there a non-beta version? ...OUCH

toughski

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/100531#Comment_100531

syncing between a beta and non-beta can potentially cause problems

I have 2 computers: a desktop and a laptop. Desktop has a L4 RC and a BETA on a separate user account. Laptop has L4 RC. How do I avoid syncing problems without turning off updates, etc.?

Rich DeRuiter

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/101049#Comment_101049

syncing between a beta and non-beta can potentially cause problems

I have 2 computers: a desktop and a laptop. Desktop has a L4 RC and a BETA on a separate user account. Laptop has L4 RC. How do I avoid syncing problems without turning off updates, etc.?

Type set sync to no in the command bar should of either the beta or non-beta computer do it. But this will mean nothing will synchronize (including licenses). If you're okay with that, it would make your system safe. So far, I've not found it necessary, as the beta releases have been stable, and interoperability has not been an issue.

toughski

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/101054#Comment_101054

Richard, thank you very much for a very quick reply on a Sunday. We finished services a few hours ago, being 12 hours ahead of CST, but I did not anticipate an answer till tomorrow.

Anyway, a follow-up question to "set sync to no" is how do I reverse it if needed? do I type "set sync to yes"?

Rich DeRuiter

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/101064#Comment_101064

Anyway, a follow-up question to "set sync to no" is how do I reverse it if needed? do I type "set sync to yes"?

Pretty smart guy, Vladimir. Yep.

Kevin Becker

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/101054#Comment_101054

Type set sync to no in the command bar should of either the beta or non-beta computer do it. But this will mean nothing will synchronize (including licenses). If you're okay with that, it would make your system safe. So far, I've not found it necessary, as the beta releases have been stable, and interoperability has not been an issue.

Richard, I have never been able to get this command to work. Could it have been disabled? Could you attempt it on your machine to confirm whether it works of not?

Rich DeRuiter

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/101231#Comment_101231

Type set sync to no in the command bar should of either the beta or non-beta computer do it. But this will mean nothing will synchronize (including licenses). If you're okay with that, it would make your system safe. So far, I've not found it necessary, as the beta releases have been stable, and interoperability has not been an issue.

Richard, I have never been able to get this command to work. Could it have been disabled? Could you attempt it on your machine to confirm whether it works of not?

I haven't tried it in a long time. I just did and it doesn't seem to work anymore. It seems to be a legacy command at this point.

Sorry for the incorrect advice.