Perpetual beta

The banana principle is a sarcastic expression, expressing the hope that is still immature (read: poor ) product can mature with the consumer. It is based on the fact that bananas harvested unripe, green and delivered only after a maturation period during middlemen or even the end user are edible.

Positive, the term referred to in the quality control because internal testing and quality assurance measures can be saved. The error of the product is determined by the customer responses and complaints. The process is referred to by the manufacturers thus as " customer-side adjustment ." The customer who ultimately financed by his purchase but with the development of the limited usable product.

The term is primarily used in industries that deal with motor vehicles, computer components or programs.

Banana goods

Software that has not been adequately tested before being passed to the buyer, is considered by users as bananas goods, software or Banana Banana goods. The programs are the same sold to the end user, without sufficient debugging in beta testing - to have ever conducted an alpha test or even without. The producer in question often point out that it is impossible to test all end-user configurations to thereby potentially occurring errors. The remedy by updates on the problem descriptions is therefore not only cost effective but also the only realistic possibility.

The users can not or only partially use the already paid software often. You have to wait after the complaint from the manufacturer to the update, but sometimes pay extra and inputting of data again in an improved program. In addition, must be adapted to the updated version with Expandable by the customer products may own developments.

In computer games, this principle also occurs frequently. Patches are needed to run the game satisfactorily. The trend established itself also in the console games since consoles are now connected to the Internet and so patches can be re-stocked. Previously required critical software error submitting and sharing of the game medium, which could be correspondingly costly for the manufacturer.

Through the Internet and the development of open-source programs, however, the role of the (end) user has changed. He often receives not a finished product but a retrievable through the network service. Appropriate adjustments to the programs and regular updates ( updates) are often included. Some program developers to ensure the terms Continuous Beta or Perpetual Beta have (both English / Latin / Greek loosely translated as for permanent secondary goods or colloquially constant bananas goods) naturalized. The user should be doing as a co-developer (English Co - Developer) are considered in the process of developing a program.