Form Tools: generic form processing, storage and access script
Beta Releases

The version release process has been updated with 1.4.6. Formerly, beta releases would be updated on the fly without any documentation on the changes, which left the poor beta tester rather in the dark as to what files changes and why, and what they need to do to ensure their installation was up to date. This page documents the various phases that a Form Tools version goes through to be released publicly.

Release Schedule

1 Private Beta This is the first draft of a new version of Form Tools. Although I'll have put it through it's paces myself, it's very possible it contains bugs I hadn't come across. I will randomly contact a number of people (40 or so) who've indicated they're interested in being beta testers. I will link them to the updated documentation, upgrade information and download file. Once I've received sufficient feedback from them to convince me it's not going to do any harm - and fixed any bugs that may have arose - I'll move it into public beta.
2 Public Beta I open up the new release for public download.
3 Public release All bugs are fixed! ;-) The final version is released as the standard build... and there was much rejoicing.

Notes

  • As of version 1.4.6, each beta release has it's own version. When you're running a beta version of Form Tools, you will see it indicated on the Program Settings page.
  • Any release of Form Tools (e.g. 1.6.9), may have multiple versions numbering 1 and up. Any time any bugs are found, the downloadable beta zipfile is updated the moment they are fixed, and the beta version number is increased. To check you're running the latest beta, just click on the "Check latest version" link on the Program Settings page. That will take you to a page on the Form Tools site letting you know if you're up to date, what files have been updated between the fixes in the current beta, and other information. Hopefully this should provide ample information
  • Form Tools is a small project; at the moment I'm not about to delve into separate branches for each release.
  • I don't have any durations in mind for the various phases of release; it all depends on the extent of the changes, how comfortable I feel with the code, the amount and range of the feedback and so on.