Do you install Beta 1 of every new version?

[TheNerdAL]

I install Beta 1 when it comes out in every version because I want to help report bugs and stuff. What about you?

[dearingj]

I install alpha versions :)
I've been running Lucid since the first alpha, and before that I ran Karmic starting with alpha 3.

[TheNerdAL]

I install alpha versions :)
I've been running Lucid since the first alpha, and before that I ran Karmic starting with alpha 3.

That'd be too risky for me. :P

[garvinrick4]

I like to start from day 1. I already have a Lucid ready to upgrade to Maverick I believe it
is going to be called. But I always have a stable one to fallback on and a full install on a flash drive not to boot from but to have a source of clean config files and such
that have never been fooled around with in case I need one. I also make sure I do an update-grub with flash in to get a copy of the full grub as installed on flash. This way I always have a copy around incase I goof something up. I do not want to do a reinstall just
because I want to be able to always repair the install I have going thru the whole Alpha-Beta-RC-and Final Release. It is a personal thing. The day a Alpha 1 starts is a good day.

[cariboo]

For the last 4 version, I've started using a new version as soon as the toolchain is uploaded. I usually have the current version as a back up just in case, as there have been a couple of times where Lucid hasn't been bootable.

[aklo]

I don't.

I only install the official release, i'm just a simple guy who wants his os to work.

[ThePinkPoo]

I am itching to start with Beta 2. Seems to be decently solid from some of the bug reports. By decently I mean solid enough for my use, but of course there is risk whenever you go bleeding edge.

[Khakilang]

I just install Lubuntu 10.04 Alpha version. Like the OS but a bit slow maybe got some bug here and there, made some report and will definitely upgrade to stable version.

[descendent87]

I test from day 1, soon as there are repo's for maverick I'll be using them. Have the latest stable version on a pen drive aswell just incase I need it

[MichealH]

I install Beta 1 when it comes out in every version because I want to help report bugs and stuff. What about you?

When the Beta 2 comes out I put the Release Schedule on my wall. Well... Cork board.

[scouser73]

For karmic I installed the first beta and I had some problems with it, for Lucid I installed alpha 3 and it's worked absolutely perfectly. It's only been the second time I've alpha/beta tested.

[macogw]

Usually for me it's Alpha 1, and then yeah eventually I end up at Beta 1. Beta's too late to report bugs and expect they'll be fixed before release (unless they're *really* critical)

I think I've only ever reported one bug post-Beta that was fixed in the final release. It was 2 days before release, the main function of a default app flat out did not work, and the only reason it got fixed is because I debugged it to the point of finding the exact line of code that was broken, made a preliminaary patch, joined the development IRC channel, and told them I had a patch for a high-priority bug in a default app. The patch had to be tweaked (oops, almost introduced a memory leak), but if I hadn't gone through to the point of "this is the line that's broken and here's why" I don't think it would have been fixed.

If you're going to report a bug really late and expect it to be fixed, you need to be motivated to debug it all the way through within days so that a developer can sit down and write the patch in an hour or so. That probably means you spend a few hours debugging, but offloading the debugging from the developers means more patches can be written. If you want to be more leisurely about debugging, report early.

[lovinglinux]

I usually try some alpha, but I always end up installing only Beta 2 on my main system.