[Rd] Alpha and Beta testing of R versions

[Martin Maechler]

[Mainly for R-foundation members; but kept in public for general
 brainstorming...]

>>>>> "Simon" == Simon Urbanek <simon.urbanek at r-project.org>
>>>>>     on Thu, 3 Nov 2005 12:16:25 -0500 writes:

	  <............>

    Simon> As Brian was saying, the error was fixed in R
    Simon> immediately after the release - strangely enough no
    Simon> one reported the error during the alpha and beta
    Simon> cycle although both the GUI and R binaries were
    Simon> available for download :(.

Unfortunately, the phrase "strangely enough" could be replaced with
``as almost always''.

Maybe we (the R-foundation) should give serious thoughts to
offer prizes for valid bug reports during alpha and beta
testing.  These could include
- Reduced fee for 'useR' and 'DSC' conferences
- being listed as helpful person in R's 'THANKS' file
  {but that may not entice those who are already listed},
  or even in the NEWS of the new relase 
  or on the "Hall of fame of R beta testers"

In order to discourage an increased number of non-bug reports we
may have to also open a "hall of shame" though...

Martin