Snort 3 Becomes Generally Available January 20, 2021 https://www.securityweek.com/snort-3-becomes-generally-available
Seven years from alpha to release? I don't think I would have announced that it took that long. I wonder how long it was in Beta?
Different projects use different terminology and development practices. Joel indeed named it as alpha release back in 2014, but if you look at Github tags it seems that it was just development snapshot for developers to play with and get feedback what users want rather than release with clearly defined features. Given that Security Week didn't even wrote version number correctly (correct version number is 3.1.0.0) I suggest to take their wording with grain of salt. Older Snort 2 branch was maintained with bug fixes etc concurrently with Snort 3 development. Furthermore data (Threat intelligence feeds) is arguably more important than actual algorithms used by Snort, so using older 2.* versions with right rules & feed probably performed well as IPS through these years.
Yes, but Alpha (and Beta), when it comes to software development, is pretty standard terminology across the entire software development industry. I worked 10 years in a large software development company so yeah, I know how it works and what "alpha" means. As one of a handful of hardware techs supporting over 400 developers at one location, one of my "other hats" was as an alpha and beta tester. And yes, that is exactly what Alpha versions are. By definition, alpha software are development versions in the early stages of testing. It is either of the entire application, or of various individual or groups of related modules within the application. Alpha is typically done "in house" and sometimes with a select group of current client customers. There may be a couple intermediary steps between Alpha and Beta, and a few after Beta before final release. But for sure, Alpha would be early on in the process and of course, they would not be "production" versions, or versions ready for release to the public, or even to the Beta testers - yet. What's important to note is "Alpha" versions are not making the company any money. So my point is, 7 years in early development is a very long time - especially when there already was a Version 2 (that is, not starting with a brand new concept for a program). This is NOT a criticism of the application. It may be excellent at what it does. But what it tells me is company leadership did not think enough of it to put the necessary resources in Ver 3.x development. And instead, it stayed on the back burner much of that time. Why? Don't know. But as I said above, it makes me wonder.
Well, it was snapshot, so it is almost like drawing board, not testing stage, because for testing you have to know how exactly features should work . They were still at the level of deciding what features to include and how exactly they should work. Both Snort 2 and Snort 3 are completely free of charge, because they are GNU GPL v.2 licensed Free Software. However some threat intelligence feeds are available only to paid subscribers.[/QUOTE]
Not sure why you keep trying to make points here. Again, I know what alpha testing is for. You are not saying anything new, or being contested. And 7 years in alpha is still a very long time. It does not matter if free. It still costs money to develop. And while giving away software may not bring in revenue directly, neither does a billboard or TV ad.
