Web browsers have been around for a while one of the most used applications by many users. The spread of web services, the huge amount of information that we can find, the universality of their approach… in short, there are many reasons that caused web browsers to move from the center to other applications that at that time were the most used daily by ordinary users.

Because we are talking about a type of application that plays a key role in many people’s daily lives (and I’m writing this, of course, through a web browser), the important thing is that they offer practically absolute reliability, that they are indisputably stable, and that’s why we can trust them and that they don’t screw us up. the least expected moment. Now, this is not as simple as it may seem, and for an important reason.

The development of web browsers is fast and continuous, which means tight development cycles in time, restrictions on the performance of all tests that would be necessary and the like. The competition to grow market share pushes responsible companies to step on the gas to the maximum, mainly to add new features and improvements before the competition, but of course without giving up the aforementioned reliability, which is a key factor.

So the companies responsible for web browsers got a sensational idea to significantly increase their ability to evaluate development versions: to allow users who wish to participate in said process. This allows them to expand the scope of their testing program far beyond what they could take on with their own resources, and they do so by engaging the community, which can provide them with truly valuable feedback.

Why test web browsers in their development versions?

This is of course a big question, because the answer to it allows for extremely diverse approaches. Thus we find people who, on principle, refuse to “work” for free for the companies responsible for web browsers with the functions they are supposed to perform. Meanwhile, at the other extreme we have the most enthusiastic, who are more than mere mortals happy to try, features and news to come.

Personally, although without going to extremes, I am one of those who often test development versions of browsers. Granted, I do this at least partially for work, finding and capturing new features that are relevant enough to report on, but I won’t deny that there’s a personal component, because even though I’ve spent decades dedicated to this technology and even in times of certain boredom I still enjoy these things.

So they are two main reasons why I think the development versions are worth a try web browsers: curiosity and contribution. The first is self-explanatory and quite widespread (the interest in the beta version is accredited, for example, by the practically absolute impossibility of gaining access to the WhatsApp beta test program for Android, which I have been trying unsuccessfully for a long time).

The latter is a vastly more personal assessment, but I think so be able to contribute to the improvement of the application, even more so in one of this type, so important to so many users, adds a grain of sand to an important task. Obviously, companies need to have and maintain professional testing teams, that’s for sure, but it expands their reach beta testers Volunteers generally seem like a pretty defensible practice to me.

What should you not do with these versions?

A trial version is by definition not entirely reliable version. And this may seem like the truth, yes, but over the years I have seen many (really many) cases of users with very diverse profiles, development versions of applications, services and even operating systems for use, which should be listed. , in final versions (also called “production”). And yes, when I say I’ve seen many people do this, I include myself in that list.

So it is very clear to me both from my own experience and from third parties that there are uses and uses and that not all of them are recommended when we are talking about web browsers in their development versions. And even if common sense has certainly already guided you on the right path in this regard, it won’t hurt to review them briefly:

• Productivity: If your work or study depends on what you will do through the browser, you should not use the development version.
• Sensitive information: It is not common for development versions of web browsers to have security issues, but this is not a guarantee in this regard. Do not use them to access your online bank, personal data on public administration websites, etc.
• Compromised operations: The web browser in its development version is more prone to crashes than the final version. Therefore, in any type of action where it may present a problem, use the stable version.

As I indicated earlier, you’ll see that common sense will tell you when to use the beta and when not to.

Beta/Channel Types

Some browsers only have a beta version, but others have several in various stages of development. Therefore, it is important to consider the differences between them when choosing which one (or ones) to try. In addition, depending on the browser, versions can be identified with different nomenclature (in the case of Microsoft Edge, we are not talking about versions, but about channels, as in the Windows Insiders program).

In all cases where we find more than one version that is not stable, we will see the same model reproduced: the most unstable is the latest, generally the one that is updated the most, and of course, it is also the first where new features usually arrive. The relationship between novelty and stability is always inversely proportional..

However, the important aspect is that as a general rule It is possible to have both a production version (stable) and one or more development versions installed at the same time.. Therefore, if you are curious about the differences between development stages, there is nothing stopping you from having them all in your system.

Google Chrome

In the case of Google Chrome, we can find three versions of the browser in addition to the stable one:

• Google Chrome Canary: This is the most unstable version and also the first in which we find new features and experiments that could reach the stable version. You can download it by clicking here.
• Google Chrome Beta: This version is significantly more stable and reliable than Canary, and the new features we find here usually make it to the final version. You can install it from this link.
• Google Chrome Dev: This version is specially designed for web developers as it takes the lead in implementing features that aim to play an important role in the future of the web. You can download it from here.

Microsoft Edge

Now let’s go with Microsoft Edge, which shares some nomenclature with Google’s browser, in this area as well. In this case, yes, the three development versions are limited to the browser, not the technologies supported for the web.

• Microsoft Edge Canary: You will find updates on this channel almost daily. Obviously, it’s the one that marks the first testing phase of a new feature, and it’s also the most unstable.
• Microsoft Edge Dev: just look at its position in this list to get an idea, in this case we have a more stable version than Canary, but less than Beta. The frequency of its updates is weekly.
• Microsoft Edge Beta– Updated monthly, this version is not as stable as the production version, but it is close. It is renewed monthly.

All three versions can be found at this link.

Mozilla Firefox

When we talk about Mozilla Firefox, we find something that we could call a “mix” of what we see in the two previous browsers. These three versions are available:

• Mozilla Firefox Nightly: The “surname” Nightly, common in the development world, refers to compilations, generally automatic, usually performed on a daily basis (overnight, with the whole day running). So we are talking about unstable versions, but always with the latest ones.
• Mozilla Firefox Beta: Not quite stable, but reasonably reliable. It is the final test version before the production version is launched, so we will find all the news that will arrive in that version.
• Mozilla Firefox Developer Edition: again we find a version specifically aimed at developers, which allows the testing of web technologies that are still in the testing phase.

All three versions can be found at this link.

Opera

Opera is currently transitioning to Opera One, a process announced in April of this year that became a reality two months later in June. but it will still take some time to complete. This of course explains the two test versions of this browser that we can find:

• Opera Beta Browser: as you might have already imagined, as in previous web browsers, the Opera beta version also offers us a compilation before the production version, which allows us to access its new features shortly before they reach regular users.
• Developer of Opera One: In this case, we find progress in the implementation of Opera One, so it is a less stable version, but on the other hand, it offers us glimpses into the future of the browser.

You can download both versions from this link.

brave

In the case of Brave, a browser that is particularly highly rated by users who are most concerned about privacy, we find two versions to check what comes next.

• Brave Nightly: every night we renew the last name that we have already seen in Firefox and with exactly the same meaning. It’s updated daily, potentially very unstable, and of course it’s the first to show us what they’re working on. You can download it from this link.
• Brave Beta: Brave qualifies this beta as a preview, which means that we are talking about a version that is quite close to the production version, and is therefore reasonably reliable and shows us exactly what will arrive in the production version. Click here to download.

Vivaldi

The Vivaldi community is not particularly large, but its users are always quite happy with their browser. In this case, yes, we find a more modest proposal than we have seen before, with only one type of option in this sense.

• Vivaldi’s snapshots: in this case the developer opts for images, compilations that are performed with some periodicity, usually when there are deemed to be enough differences from the previous one, or when there is a particular interest in evaluating something that has just been implemented during development. You can find the most up-to-date image of Vivaldi at this link.