Pre-Release Notes: Alpha, Beta, and RC
How to write release notes for pre-release versions including alpha, beta, and release candidates. Covers stability warnings, testing instructions, and feedback channels.
Pre-Releases
Detailed Explanation
Pre-Release Notes
Pre-release versions (alpha, beta, release candidates) need special release notes that set expectations about stability and encourage testing.
Alpha Release
## [2.0.0-alpha.1] - 2026-02-28
> **This is an alpha release.** APIs may change without notice.
> Do not use in production. We welcome feedback and bug reports.
### What's New in v2.0 Alpha
This alpha introduces the new rendering engine that will power v2.0.
We are releasing early to gather community feedback on the API design.
### Added
- New `Renderer` class with declarative API
- WebGL backend for hardware acceleration
- `Canvas.snapshot()` for image export
### Known Issues
- Memory usage is ~2x higher than v1.x (will optimize before beta)
- WebGL fallback to Canvas2D is not yet implemented
- TypeScript types are incomplete
### How to Install
```bash
npm install projectx@2.0.0-alpha.1
Feedback
- API feedback: Discussion #456
- Bug reports: Issue tracker with "v2-alpha" label
- Discord: #v2-testing channel
### Beta Release
```markdown
## [2.0.0-beta.1] - 2026-02-28
> **This is a beta release.** Feature complete but may contain bugs.
> Suitable for testing and evaluation, not recommended for production.
### Changes Since Alpha.3
- API stabilized (no more breaking changes expected)
- Memory optimization: now only 20% more than v1.x
- WebGL fallback to Canvas2D implemented
- TypeScript types are complete
### Testing Checklist
Please help us test these specific scenarios:
- [ ] Large documents (1000+ elements)
- [ ] WebGL on mobile browsers
- [ ] Migration from v1.x using the codemod
- [ ] Plugin compatibility
### Known Issues
- Rare flickering on Safari with complex animations (#789)
Release Candidate
## [2.0.0-rc.1] - 2026-02-28
> **Release Candidate.** This is the expected final version pending
> any critical bugs found during the RC period. If no blocking issues
> are found by March 15, this will become v2.0.0.
### Changes Since Beta.2
- Fix Safari flickering (#789)
- Final documentation updates
- Performance benchmarks published
### Timeline
- RC period: Feb 28 - Mar 15
- Stable release: March 15 (if no blockers)
Key Differences from Stable Releases
| Aspect | Pre-Release | Stable |
|---|---|---|
| Tone | "Please test" | "Ready to use" |
| Stability warning | Always included | Not needed |
| Known issues | Listed explicitly | Fixed before release |
| Feedback channels | Prominently linked | Standard issue tracker |
| Install command | Uses tag/version | Default install |
Use Case
Publishing pre-release versions to gather community feedback, run integration testing, and validate API designs before committing to a stable release.