Beta versions of Thunderbird deliver fixes and feature changes to users before they are made available in regular releases to the general public. Because it helps improve Thunderbird, we love having users using beta versions for both short and long periods of time. '''But it is important to know what you can expect in terms of risks and rewards, and other considerations, which this reference provides. We recommend that you read this information and be informed before proceeding.''' When you are ready, you can [https://www.mozilla.org/thunderbird/beta/all/ download the beta]. __TOC__ =Risks and Considerations= Generally speaking, the beta channel is considered to be unstable and not recommended for production. Some these these issues are listed below. That said, we attempt to minimize the risks to users, there are rewards (listed below), and risks can be mitigated (also listed below). * Frequent code changes may introduce broken UI or the potential for dataloss. * On average, you can expect the beta version of Thunderbird to be updated one to two times per week. * New features may be incomplete, as improvements are provided in an iterative process. * Add-ons may not work properly (or at all) now or in the future. =Purpose and Rewards= * Beta is a test bed for patches and features which have landed in the [[#w_channels|daily build channel]], where more users are able to experience and test these changes in a more stable version before being shipped in a release version. * You are able to participate in improving your favorite open-source software, by [[#w_give-feedback|giving feedback]] to help make the next Thunderbird release as awesome as possible.* * Overall stablility and quality is monitored, so that regressions are found and fixes verified before the code moves to a release version. * Add-ons authors use the beta channel to develop, update, and fix their add-ons. * Localizers use beta to interpret Thunderbird into their language. While beta is considered to be unstable, quality and stability are goals for beta and are normally sufficiently high for adventurous users to use it on a daily basis. And you =Mitigations= You can run multiple installations and multiple channels, without one affecting the other by, by using a data profile for each with [[Using Multiple Profiles|multiple profiles]] - use one profile for beta and one for production. =Installation and updates= You can download the beta from the [https://www.thunderbird.net/channel/ channel page]. Thunderbird updates are pulled from the "beta channel" so that you get beta updates, not normal release updates. Updates occur every 4 weeks, and as needed by developers and Thunderbird release management. You can also run the normal release of Thunderbird "at the same time" by installing the beta into a different directory than the release version. (And when the normal release is running, its updates come from the "release channel", not the beta channel.) <!-- add links --> =Give Feedback= User feedback and investigation is essential to the improvement of Thunderbird. You are encouraged to : * [https://thunderbird.topicbox.com/groups/beta Post beta specific questions, see what others are reporting, and help other beta users] * Ask non-beta specific questions in [https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/new/thunderbird the Thunderbird support forum] * [[Safe Mode Thunderbird|Reproduce problems in safe mode]] and file a bug report for [https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/enter_bug.cgi?product=Thunderbird Thunderbird] or [https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/enter_bug.cgi?product=Calendar Calendar] =Add-ons= Add-ons frequently may not work in the beta environment. If you require many add-ons you should consider using the [https://www.thunderbird.net/ normal release]. That said, if you have issues with an add-on please: * Refer to [[Unable to install add-ons (extensions or themes) in Thunderbird]]. * Contact the add-on developer via the support information provided on their add-on page on [https://addons.thunderbird.net/ https://addons.thunderbird.net]. * Use beta-compatible versions (the add-ons site in some cases has difficulty providing beta versions of add-ons): =Channels= A channel is a mechanism for managaing the update process. When you download and install Thunderbird it is set for a specific channel, and that installation receives updates only for that channel according to the configuration setting in the program directory. Thunderbird has three channels * Release - the most stable channel, with major new versions roughly every 10 months, and minor versions every 4 weeks * Beta - pre-release channel described above * Daily - is a highly unstable testing and development channel, the initial location where developers land patches for new features and fixes. You can get daily at [https://www.thunderbird.net/channel/ channel download].

Beta versions of Thunderbird deliver fixes and feature changes to users before they are made available in regular releases to the general public. Because it helps improve Thunderbird, we love having users using beta versions for both short and long periods of time. But it is important to know what you can expect in terms of risks and rewards, and other considerations, which this reference provides. We recommend that you read this information and be informed before proceeding.

When you are ready, you can download the beta.

Risks and Considerations

Generally speaking, the beta channel is considered to be unstable and not recommended for production. Some these these issues are listed below. That said, we attempt to minimize the risks to users, there are rewards (listed below), and risks can be mitigated (also listed below).

• Frequent code changes may introduce broken UI or the potential for dataloss.
• On average, you can expect the beta version of Thunderbird to be updated one to two times per week.
• New features may be incomplete, as improvements are provided in an iterative process.
• Add-ons may not work properly (or at all) now or in the future.

Purpose and Rewards

• Beta is a test bed for patches and features which have landed in the daily build channel, where more users are able to experience and test these changes in a more stable version before being shipped in a release version.
• You are able to participate in improving your favorite open-source software, by giving feedback to help make the next Thunderbird release as awesome as possible.*
• Overall stablility and quality is monitored, so that regressions are found and fixes verified before the code moves to a release version.
• Add-ons authors use the beta channel to develop, update, and fix their add-ons.
• Localizers use beta to interpret Thunderbird into their language.

While beta is considered to be unstable, quality and stability are goals for beta and are normally sufficiently high for adventurous users to use it on a daily basis. And you

Mitigations

You can run multiple installations and multiple channels, without one affecting the other by, by using a data profile for each with multiple profiles - use one profile for beta and one for production.

Installation and updates

You can download the beta from the channel page. Thunderbird updates are pulled from the "beta channel" so that you get beta updates, not normal release updates. Updates occur every 4 weeks, and as needed by developers and Thunderbird release management.

You can also run the normal release of Thunderbird "at the same time" by installing the beta into a different directory than the release version. (And when the normal release is running, its updates come from the "release channel", not the beta channel.)

Give Feedback

User feedback and investigation is essential to the improvement of Thunderbird. You are encouraged to :

• Post beta specific questions, see what others are reporting, and help other beta users
• Ask non-beta specific questions in the Thunderbird support forum
• Reproduce problems in safe mode and file a bug report for Thunderbird or Calendar

Add-ons

Add-ons frequently may not work in the beta environment. If you require many add-ons you should consider using the normal release.

That said, if you have issues with an add-on please:

• Refer to Unable to install add-ons (extensions or themes) in Thunderbird.
• Contact the add-on developer via the support information provided on their add-on page on https://addons.thunderbird.net.
• Use beta-compatible versions (the add-ons site in some cases has difficulty providing beta versions of add-ons):

Channels

A channel is a mechanism for managaing the update process. When you download and install Thunderbird it is set for a specific channel, and that installation receives updates only for that channel according to the configuration setting in the program directory.

Thunderbird has three channels

• Release - the most stable channel, with major new versions roughly every 10 months, and minor versions every 4 weeks
• Beta - pre-release channel described above
• Daily - is a highly unstable testing and development channel, the initial location where developers land patches for new features and fixes. You can get daily at channel download.