Note: this information only applies to beta releases. Most users never encounter a beta release and can safely ignore this section.
A beta release should not be used for critical work. In most cases it has not been extensively tested and may have known problems.
Don't assume that the performance of a beta release will correspond to the performance of the final versions. Most beta releases contain runtime tests that will make the beta slower, sometimes much slower, than the final version. Please report if any such test triggers.
Beta releases may also contain experimental performance improvements that could make the beta faster, sometimes much faster, than the final version.
Most beta releases are time limited and will cease to function about three month from release. This is also true of any runtime systems built with the beta.