Trog, the Blog

Trog Bar makes beta software available on a feature-by-feature basis rather than releasing a complete beta upgrade. Each update may contain one or more Beta or Preview Features. Before you can use Preview or Beta Features, you are required to “opt in”. As long as you haven’t opted to use these features, the Trog Bar will operate as if they don’t exist. Once you opt in they are enabled immediately. This allows us to make these features available early to the general public without jeopardizing the stability of the software for general users, and with minimal inconvenience to the testers. When beta features are enabled, only the feature itself is beta code. The remainder of the program will continue to run in release mode.

Preview Features and Beta Features are an important part of our “continuous update” development approach. The continuous update model allows us to deliver bug fixes and features rapidly, even if they are still under development. People are able get the benefits of these features early and we get the benefit of early feedback, and testing on a wide range of machines.

Sometimes parts of a beta feature will be visible, even though you are not running in beta mode. For example, an extra tab or menu option for a Beta Feature may be visible. This is done to allow people to see beta features that they may want to use. When you attempt to access one of these features, you are given the opportunity to opt in, or to cancel and continue in release mode without the feature. If you opt in, you may opt out at any time on the Options screen.