Interested in being a pre-release tester? Apply here.

[Moonchild]

Since our development has been accelerating, with generally longer lists of features changed or added each development release, it was suggested to get more release candidate testers on board. This is done through the forum, so I'm tossing an open invitation up here: Are you interested in doing some pre-release testing of Pale Moon? Then let me know here.

We currently do this kind of testing and RC feedback on Windows and Linux only.

Some things to keep in mind if you want to do this:

• This isn't just an "early access" kind of deal. You are supposed to actually test and report back.
• You should (of course) not distribute release candidates as they may have bugs, and would cause confusion.
• You are expected to have some knowledge of the project, browsers in general, and roughly know what you're doing. You don't need to be a developer, but anyone with "advanced" PC knowledge is welcome. No need to be a power user, but those are welcome too
• Brand new accounts need not apply.

[Gemmaugr]

Assuming I do this;

Is it a "portable" type thing that's more or less self-contained (and I need to switch to a default profile before switching from regular PM to testing the RC, to make sure its clean, and not mess up my regular profile)?

Would I be given sites or a browser function to test against issues, as well my own perusing?

I'm assuming the F12 error console is not enough, and require posting with Tools > Developer Tools > Error Console?

Would having WinDBG (which I have) be presumed and utilized?

Since I'm not familiar with any current FTP, where should I post the crash dump (PM, Mail)?

[Moonchild]

Is it a "portable" type thing that's more or less self-contained

Portables are provided (for Windows). You can use a separate profile in normal run operation as well. But see below with your other question:

Would I be given sites or a browser function to test against issues, as well my own perusing?

Not really. RC testing is primarily to get some broader exposure prior to release in "real world" scenarios, i.e. normal day to day browsing. Depending on what has changed (preliminary release notes are posted as well) it allows you to spot-test some things but this isn't a strictly-organized beta program where you are asked to follow a rigid methodology (that has its own flaws, anyway, i.e. anything outside of the testing framework will be missed).
So you are basically asked to just use RCs "as normal"; they are built to be release-ready. It's mostly to catch any real showstoppers that might have slipped through in the dev cycle or regressed by it.

Devtools, Windbg and crash dumps are normally not part of this "last mile" testing, but if you are familiar with the tools you can use them where prudent. FTP is available to upload crashdumps, see the "howto" post for that elsewhere on this board (don't have a link handy). So any appcrashes can be handled that way, if it's an issue.

[Gemmaugr]

RC testing is primarily to get some broader exposure prior to release in "real world" scenarios, i.e. normal day to day browsing.

Got it.
I think I'm ok with FEBE backing up my stuff in case of profile corruption anyway (? history, bookmarks, addons, settings..?), and I just looked up how to FTP (which was much much simpler than I thought).
I'll test the RC out then, but do a separate profile if a crash dump is needed.

[Moonchild]

Thanks. You've been added as a tester.

[Bilbo47]

In my experience with RCs, crashes don't happen, even outside normal usage patterns IOW this is not beta testing...

[andyprough]

Yes, I'd be interested. With the way I use Pale Moon, I'm pretty sure I could just use the RC as my regular daily browser.

[Moonchild]

this is not beta testing...

Ah yes, to be 100% clear, this is pre-release testing, not development stream testing. Of course you're welcome to do that as well (on your own volition, by building from the master branch) but this is literally "just to catch things before we throw a release to the entire world" because there are always things that can unintentionally go wrong with final builds or stuff that comes out from patches ported for security bugs close to release.

Yes, I'd be interested.

Thanks. You've been added also

[Nigaikaze]

I am also interested in helping out with testing.

[Moonchild]

I am also interested in helping out with testing.

Thanks. You've been added.

Oh and just in case it wasn't clear yet. Being added to the testers group adds access to a specific tester board to the forum where you can find the info.

[Mæstro]

This sounds fun, as long as I can keep it apart from my existing profiles.
I have wanted to help the project for a while, but my family’s finances have suffered this year, which disrupted my original plans.

[Moonchild]

This sounds fun, as long as I can keep it apart from my existing profiles.

Thanks, you've been added also.

As for keeping things separate: easy enough by leveraging multiple profiles in the browser or opting for testing with the portable.

[teknixstuff]

I'm interested.

[UCyborg]

How come 34.3.0 was released so soon after these recruitments?

[Gemmaugr]

How come 34.3.0 was released so soon after these recruitments?

As a Release Candidate tester, every tester said it looked very good, and it was ready for release. Any testing of the next Candidate might take longer. It depends on what is found.

[Night Wing]

I am not a tester. And with that said, I have not had any crashes with 64 bit (GTK2) linux Pale Moon 34.3.0 anywhere since it was released. And I surf all over the internet.

[Moonchild]

How come 34.3.0 was released so soon after these recruitments?

The suggestion was made as part of the RC testing cycle to get more people involved, so I did. The release was pronounced stable, so it was published. Just having a few more people involved in "last mile" testing is a good thing if there are more changes because everyone has their own usage patterns. RC testing is not beta testing. It's a final check for any compat blockers or obvious major stability issues before it's being release to everyone.

[Moonchild]

I'm interested.

Alright. Welcome

[thosrtanner]

Realized I meant to stick my name in here as well. Apologies for being slooow

[Moonchild]

Realized I meant to stick my name in here as well. Apologies for being slooow

No worries. Welcome to the tester group.