So, what does everyone think about CTP builds?

re: So, what does everyone think about CTP builds?

SmartiKat — Fri, 10 Dec 2004 20:41:00 GMT

It really helps to have access to CTPs. Or automatically enroll MSDN subscribers to major Betas will be nice too. I found the SQL CTP extremely useful, and the VS 2005 beta usable. From past experience, both SQL and VS's beta are way better than the existing RTM ver. OSes Beta, however, are mostly useless until the RCs.

re: So, what does everyone think about CTP builds?

Roger Bonine — Fri, 10 Dec 2004 15:34:00 GMT

The CTP builds are very useful for those of us that do long-term project planning. Keep 'em coming!

re: So, what does everyone think about CTP builds?

Alex — Fri, 10 Dec 2004 05:04:00 GMT

I like CTPs as well... just wish I wouldnt have to emule most of the stuff i'm interested in... don't have an msdn subscribtion

re: So, what does everyone think about CTP builds?

Shannon J Hager — Fri, 10 Dec 2004 04:07:00 GMT

I agree with Geoff but I think that most people expect to use a mix of products together and that it should be made a little more clear if the builds are compatible with other products or not. I have been using the SQL Server 2005 drops exclusively so I haven't had the problems with Whidbey drops that some have had.
I definitely think the drops should continue. The length of time we were stuck with Yukon Beta 1 was far too long. I understand that drops are easier to coordinate later in the game but I would have been able to do a LOT more testing if we had been given more incremental drops before Beta 2.

re: So, what does everyone think about CTP builds?

Geoff Appleby — Fri, 10 Dec 2004 02:45:00 GMT

I think they're definately worth having. To find bugs and report them is good - to then see a report saying it's been fixed is great. To get a download not long later to see the fix for yourself is fantastic.
Also, by having a recent drop, any bugs found and reported you can be more confident that they're new and not something that's been reported 15000 times already :)

re: So, what does everyone think about CTP builds?

Todd Spatafore — Fri, 10 Dec 2004 01:22:00 GMT

Well, I for one really appreciate having access to these CTP's. It's great to see the progress being made and be able to provide feedback to the teams. Keep them coming, but if possible could you shuffle them off into their own tree branch? To make it more obvious which are the stable/released products and which are the CTP/Beta products.