System testing performed by the development team is called $\alpha- testing$ whereas the system testing performed by a friendly set of customers is called $\beta- testing$.
$\alpha- testing$
Alpha testing is one of the most common software testing strategy used in software development. Its specially used by product development organizations.
- This test takes place at the developer’s site.
- Alpha testing is testing of an application when development is about to complete. Minor design changes can still be made as a result of alpha testing.
$\beta- testing$
Beta Testing is also known as field testing. It takes place at customer’s site. It sends the system/software to users who install it and use it under real-world working conditions.
- A beta test is the second phase of software testing in which a sampling of the intended audience tries the product out. (Beta is the second letter of the Greek alphabet.) Originally, the term alpha testing meant the first phase of testing in a software development process. The first phase includes unit testing, component testing, and system testing. Beta testing can be considered “pre-release testing.
