Beta Testing

Beta testing which is right after Alpha testing is considered one of the most important parts of the development process. It's usually when public users can to use the product developed and provide feedback and depending on the project how the project scales when lots of users are using the application and sharing data. It's usually in this phase that many "bugs" appear and many of them unexpected by the developer team. In my experience I've been a part of beta tests usually when it pertains with the gaming industry. Usually the product is very well into the development and is practically ready to launch but companies want to get a small sample size for feedback. It's one of the most well known phases of development since now a "buzz" word for modern development.

Build blogs and choices

I've been reading different types of blogs since I was in middle school. I have always loved the diversity in content and the accessibility of each blog. That being said since I have come across my share of different types of blogs about various different subject matters a questions quickly pops up. Should blogger's use tools like blogger or wordpress or develop their own blog from scratch or close to it. Granted the learning curve for developing your own is much larger with a needed understanding of HTML,php, and other various languages may be required unlike blogger or wordpress where most tools are GUI(general user interface) based for easy fast development. I believe that many bloggers choose to develop fast than slowly build a blog but I have seen both types have their own success and it is my opinion that greater control down the road is better for more popular blogs than those who just treat it as a hobby would be better off using the easier tools. For each individual blogger it comes down to individual long term goals and the starting knowledge base when it comes to web development.  

Here is a good reference(1)  if you wish built your own. Basically to sum it up it requires basic front-end skills get comfortable with HTML5 and php is you wish you maintain a simple database but to be honest it's possible without it. 

(1) Lawson, B. (2009, June 30). HTML5 Doctor. HTML5 Doctor. Retrieved , from http://html5doctor.com/designing-a-blog-with-html5/

Sites where the process is simple
blogger
wordpress

Usability important?

Modern development especially in the mobile scene happens are a pretty fast pace. Especially when it comes to the IOS, Android, and HTML5 applications maybe individual develops either have no time for the usability cycle or just don't even have knowledge about it. Which begs the questions is usability still important in this new generation of developers? Is the process of gain user input important still now during the development process. We know that with large software project in respectable companies it still very much is. What about those two or three man teams making small games or utility apps. Argument could be make that is isn't and when dealing with that level of design would be overwhelming for small groups. This makes sense with the size and availability of resources and yet it has been the small teams that have had a huge explosion in the market place leading to fast growing companies. Examples of this are Twitter, Twitchtv formerly known as Justin.tv, and Facebook started as a small project. Usability is important in modern day development, but many have taken it with a pinch of salt. Since it is well known that the users don't always know what they want and desire. Often making new products takes a good deal of time, effort, and risk. 

Nielsen, J. (n.d.). Nielsen Norman Group. Usability 101: Introduction to Usability. Retrieved , from http://www.nngroup.com/articles/usability-101-introduction-to-usability/