Where Industry-Grade Meets “Always Beta” Through Open-Source

NIn the intricate tapestry of software development, the fusion of industry-grade reliability with the expansive insights of open-source can weave a robust fabric of innovation and trustworthiness. At Sterfive, this synthesis is not just a concept but a tried and tested methodology that underpins our software offerings. Let’s chat about how we bring together our top-notch, customer-focused software development with insights from the open-source community, all under the banner of “Always Beta.”

The Power of Community: An Unmatched Testing Ground 🌍

At Sterfive, our approach to software development is a bit unconventional. While we’re committed to providing our customers and professional users with top-notch, industry-grade software, we also understand the boundless potential of community-driven development.

By offering cutting-edge versions of our software to the open-source community, we’re opening the doors to extensive testing. This community, passionate and vast, acts as an invaluable reservoir, exposing our software to a diverse array of scenarios, environments, and edge cases.

“Always Beta”: What’s That About? 🤔

Think of “Always Beta” as a car that’s always on the road, constantly tuning up and improving. Instead of parking it in a garage and bringing it out only once it’s ‘perfect’, we believe in continuous refinement. Since 2014, we’ve been tweaking, adjusting, and enhancing our software roughly every two weeks. In short, it’s our promise that we’re always working to make things better for you.

The Give and Take: Quality Assurance and Real-World Application 🔄

This collaboration isn’t one-sided. As the community benefits from our advanced offerings, we gain from their rigorous testing. The feedback we receive enables us to iron out wrinkles, refine functionalities, and ensure that our software isn’t just theoretically sound but excels in practical, real-world applications.

Moreover, this open-source approach stands as a testament to the quality and efficacy of what we’re building. By placing our software in the open-source, we’re confident in its robustness and invite users and businesses to experience its capabilities firsthand.

Advancing with the Professional Edition: Stability and Support 🎖️

While our open-source version is a powerhouse in its own right, serious businesses relying on NodeOPCUA should consider the Professional Edition*. Not only does it encompass the collective feedback from the community, but it also offers added layers of stability, support, and features tailored for mission-critical applications and fast response times.

Going for our Professional Long-Term Support edition isn’t just an upgrade; it’s teaming up with us. With it, companies can be confident they’re armed with a tool that’s not only strong but also consistently refined. Plus, choosing this edition helps support the broader ecosystem, keeping the cycle of improvement spinning.

The Open-Source Vibe: It’s a Win-Win 🌐

Beyond the nitty-gritty of software development, open-source is all about teamwork and shared growth. By pooling together knowledge and experience, we create something that’s greater than the sum of its parts. And this aligns perfectly with Sterfive’s vision: we’re not just a company; we’re your partner in success.

Wrapping Up:

At Sterfive, we’ve mastered the art of intertwining customer-driven development with insights from open-source engagement. Our unwavering focus on customer needs, enriched by the diverse testing landscapes of the open-source community, ensures that we deliver unparalleled quality, time and again.

For those poised to elevate their operations, the Professional Edition of NodeOPCUA, refined and reinforced by a world of users, stands ready.

Ready to join the journey? Let’s roll!

How to engage together ?

Join our open-collective opencollective.com/node-opcua and choose to sponsor a project that matters for your company.

Contact us or give us a call to discuss your needs and how we can help you.

What is perpertual beta ?

Perpetual beta is a software development model in which the software is continuously released in new versions, with new features and bug fixes being added on a regular basis. Perpetual beta is often used by open-source software projects, as it allows the developers to get feedback from users early and often, and to make changes to the software based on that feedback.

Advantages:

  • Faster innovation: Perpetual beta allows developers to release new features and bug fixes more quickly, as they do not have to wait for a major release cycle.

  • Better quality: Perpetual beta allows developers to get feedback from users early and often, and to make changes to the software based on that feedback. This can help to improve the overall quality of the software.

  • More engaged users: Perpetual beta can help to keep users more engaged with the software, as they are constantly seeing new features and improvements.

Drawbacks:

  • Potential for bugs: Perpetual beta software may contain more bugs than software that is released on a traditional release cycle.

  • User confusion: Users may be confused by the fact that the software is constantly changing.

  • Lack of support: may be less likely to provide support for perpetual beta software on community forums.

Mitigation

Combined with a professional support plan, perpetual beta can be a great way to get new features and bug fixes more quickly, while still maintaining a high level of quality and support.

references:

Some examples of popular perpetual beta open-source software include:

  • Linux operating system
  • Firefox or Chrome web browser
  • Git version control system
  • Node.js JavaScript runtime environment