What are Milestone and Snapshot Versions?
Imagine building a house. Before it’s finished, you’ll have different stages: laying the foundation, framing the walls, and painting the rooms. These stages are like milestones in software development. A snapshot, on the other hand, is like taking a picture of the house at a specific point during construction.
Let’s break it down further:
Snapshot Version
What is it ?
A snapshot is a temporary version of a software product that captures its state at a particular moment in time. It’s like a quick photo of the software as it’s being built.
Key characteristics:
Unstable: It might have bugs or missing features.
Frequently updated: Snapshots can change rapidly as developers add new features or fix issues.
Purpose: Primarily for internal testing and development.
Milestone Version
What is it ?
A milestone represents a significant stage in the software development process. It’s like completing a major part of the house, like the roof or the electrical wiring.
Key characteristics:
More stable: milestone are generally more stable than snapshots but might still have some issues.
Released at specific intervals: Milestones are created at specific points in the development cycle.
Purpose: For broader testing, gathering feedback, and planning future releases.
Why are they important?
These versions help developers and users understand the software’s progress.
For developers:
Tracking progress: Milestones and snapshots help developers measure how far they’ve come and what still needs to be done.
Managing releases: By creating milestones, developers can plan for future releases and set clear goals.
For users:
Understanding development: Users can see the progress of the software and provide feedback on specific features.
Accessing early versions: Some users might be interested in trying out early versions (snapshots) to influence the final product.
Real-world examples
Think about a popular mobile game. Before the official release, the developers might create several snapshot versions to test new levels, characters, or game mechanics. Once they’ve finished a major set of features, they might release a milestone version for public beta testing.
In conclusion
Milestone and snapshot versions are essential tools in the software development process. They provide a roadmap for developers and help users understand the product’s evolution. By understanding these terms, you can better appreciate the work that goes into creating the software you use.