
Release candidates
A release candidate (RC) is a version of a software that is almost finished and ready for release, but still undergoing final testing. It contains all the intended features and fixes, and is made available to identify any remaining bugs or issues before the official launch. Think of it as a “final draft” that needs a last review. If no major problems are found, the release candidate becomes the official, stable version. This step helps ensure the software is reliable and well-tested before reaching users.