Aaron Gerdes: Alpha Is The New Beta

Alpha Is The New Beta

aarongerdes@gmail.com (Aaron Gerdes) — Sat, 11 Feb 2006 05:38:00 -0800

So what’s with the title?

“Alpha is the new beta” was a phrase that came up in the conversation that sparked this blog. I don’t think I said it (I think it was Toby!), but it had a meaning for me.

I’m moving away from perfectionism, hopefully to a more productive flow-state of releasing ideas in draft form and gathering earlier feedback. This blog is a part that – in progress on lots of levels, from focus to design. Public rapid prototyping.

Speaking of which, I’m noticing a trend. Thomas Leonard was doing it. Flickr and Gmail did it. Even Adobe!

Its releasing a product for public, no-cost testing—sometimes even while you’re still defining major features. Even at the risk of competitors using it to leapfrog. Or the risk of commoditizing your concepts before they hit the market.

Maybe this is done because the feedback gathered and its clarifying properties add enough value to offset the risk.

That said, it’s a temporary title.

"Alpha Is The New Beta" by kj

Thu, 16 Feb 2006 00:04:27 -0800

i’m not sure if “commoditizing” is some kind of sick jargon frankenstein that i am not hip to or what, but if it’s not, then you should think about settling for the pre-existing “commodifying.”

"Alpha Is The New Beta" by Mary Sims

Tue, 14 Feb 2006 21:57:07 -0800

Perfectionism is HIGHLY over-rated. Give it up. You’ll live longer.

"Alpha Is The New Beta" by Anna

Sat, 11 Feb 2006 06:22:48 -0800

Rolling out a beta version also creates buzz and a certain urgency on the part of the creator to roll out a more finalized, sleeker version.

As they say, if at first you don’t succeed, just call it v1.

(Is that a saying? I’m not sure. But I try.)