Re: [OpenSTA-users] What do u meant by unstable OpenSTA( 1.3.1)

[Daniel S. <da...@op...>]

Hi,

Abhra Debroy wrote:
> OpenSTA latest release 1.3.1 is labeled as unstable. What do mean by
> unstable ?

The OpenSTA releases with an odd minor release numbers are
designated unstable (or developer) releases.  More info on
the version numbers on the download page:
  http://opensta.org/download.html 

The intention of an unstable release series is that its
releases will contain the introduction of any new features
and behavioral/implementation changes; therefore they may
contain more bugs and be less "stable".  The stable release
series, with even minor release numbers, will normally only
get bug fixes and thus should contain less problems.  An
unstable release will mature into a stable release when the
development team are happy that it has reached a mature
point in its improvements.

This is a common practice with Open Source projects,
including Linux.

> Cannot it be used for actual load testing of site? or It is only
> for test release.

These releases are for test purposes but there is nothing
to stop any user making use of them in a live environment.
Every effort is made that *all* releases are as bug free
as possible.  The probability of problems in an unstable 
release is greater because of the newer less tested code,
so if you don't need the features in the very latest
release it may be safer to stick with the latest stable
release.

Hope this info helps,
/dan
-- 
Daniel Sutcliffe, OpenSTA Project Leader  <DanSut@OpenSTA.org>
 --=-*-=-- http://opensta.org/ --=-*-=--  "Ambivalent? Well, yes and no."
Opinions expressed in this mail are *all* mine,
 they do not reflect the opinions of my employer.