Preview is the OS beta channel. This may be confusing to some, so let me explain.
First of all we need to separate SteamOS into the client (Steam itself) and the OS. Both have their own branches.
The client has both the stable and the beta channel.
The OS has the following channels:
Stable
Stable release candidate
Beta
Beta candidate
Main
You can see these separate channel pickers when enabling developer options and the advanced update channels option there.
By default SteamOS simplifies the channel picker into 3 preset options:
Stable which is the stable client and OS
Beta which is the Steam beta client on the current stable OS
Preview which is both the beta client and beta OS
This means that the default beta option in SteamOS does in fact not include any OS beta. Only the Steam client beta.
The preview channel or otherwise known as SteamOS beta channel has had 3.5 in beta for over 2 months. Updates have trickled down in from channels in the order beta candidate -> beta -> stable release candidate -> Stable. This release has been through 3 levels of testing channels before landing in stable.
I don’t mind the opinion that 3.5 may have been undercooked to some as they indeed held on to a deadline with the OLED launch. I just want to correct the claim about a lack of beta.
Preview is the OS beta channel. This may be confusing to some, so let me explain.
First of all we need to separate SteamOS into the client (Steam itself) and the OS. Both have their own branches.
The client has both the stable and the beta channel.
The OS has the following channels:
You can see these separate channel pickers when enabling developer options and the advanced update channels option there.
By default SteamOS simplifies the channel picker into 3 preset options:
This means that the default beta option in SteamOS does in fact not include any OS beta. Only the Steam client beta.
The preview channel or otherwise known as SteamOS beta channel has had 3.5 in beta for over 2 months. Updates have trickled down in from channels in the order beta candidate -> beta -> stable release candidate -> Stable. This release has been through 3 levels of testing channels before landing in stable.
I don’t mind the opinion that 3.5 may have been undercooked to some as they indeed held on to a deadline with the OLED launch. I just want to correct the claim about a lack of beta.