There are - like in other businesses - project-stages:\nWhen you start a project and u have first results but far from finishing, its the pre-alpha-stage.\n\nAfter that, u have first results, some functions work and maybe for a first look for financiers or other people is possible, its alpha-stage. \n\nBeta-Stage is reached, when most of the functions work, the project is near completion and the bug-searching begins, or maybe the fine-tuning. \n\nAfter Beta-Stage (should come gamma-stage :) ) comes the Release. Beta-Stage is also know as testing-stage.\n\nIn Web-Pages u can see it like that:\n\nPre-Alpha: U think about what's going to be on your page\nAlpha: The basic structure is built, without any further functions or just few functions.\nBeta: Most of the functionality of your page is up and running, your friends can have a first look on it and maybe test the Forum or so...\nRelease: Its opened for business :D\n\n(For those who do not know: Alpha, Beta ... comes from the greek alphabet (<- the word "Alphabet" also does), where the first letters are "Alpha", "Beta", "Gamma" ...