Release Candidate
Noun · Open Source
Definitions
A software version that is potentially the final release, pending last-round testing. Labeled RC1, RC2, etc. In theory, no new features are added — only critical bug fixes. In practice, 'just one more thing' happens every time.
In plain English: A 'final draft' version of software that's ready for release unless testing reveals any last-minute problems.
Etymology
- 1990s
- Software companies formalize the release cycle: alpha → beta → release candidate → general availability
- 2000s
- Open-source projects adopt the RC convention, giving communities a final testing window before stable releases
- 2010s
- Continuous deployment partially obsoletes the concept — many web services ship hundreds of times per day without formal RCs