Before we go too far, you should read a blurb I wrote a few years back when people
were constantly trying, and complaining about, beta software.
Click here to read it.
"A beta version (or beta release) represents an
early version of the software that has passed basic system and regression testing.
These tests were performed in a test environment using hardware and data constructed
for the purposes. The beta build is now ready for a beta test, in which it is tested
through a limited roll-out to a production environment using live data and real
users. The beta test is normally closely monitored by the software testers.
Some development teams use the term beta informally to denote a build of the software
that is stable enough to be useful for internal demonstrations and previews to select
customers, but not yet ready for release to the general user.
Beta versions stand as an intermediate step in the full
development cycle. Developers release them to a group of beta testers (sometimes
the general public) for user testing. The testers report any bugs that they have
found and quite often features they would like to see in the final (release) version.
When a beta release becomes available to the general public it is often widely used
by the technologically aware and those familiar with previous versions as though
it were the finished product, primarily because those are the people who can usually
recover from a disaster. Usually developers of freeware or open-source betas, release
them to the general public while proprietary betas go to a relatively small group
of testers. This technique may also allow a developer to delay offering full support
and/or responsibility for remaining issues. This applies to all beta products
and you should not think for a second that they will work the way you want them
to or even expect that they should. The onus is on you as the product tester
( read lab rat ) to do your research and find out all you can about any product
before installing it on your system.
To sum it up, Beta software should not be used on production systems in
mission-critical environments."
George Gedye 2005
Just to add to what I said in the blurb, which I'm
sure you took the time
to read, something approaching 99% of the code that you find on the AutoIt forums was
written by amateur coders and you should use the same caution as you would if you were
testing a Beta product. If you don't then the blame rests squarely on your shoulders.
Now on with what you want. This is all that I have had time to place in here but
there is much more to come so please check back from time to time.
Pleas note that I have started to remove some of the files
from this site and they will no longer be available for
download.
Also see the main Downloads section
