Alpha (Alpha)
This version indicates that the software is only a preliminary finished product, usually only communicated within the software developer, and a small part is released to professional testers.
Generally speaking, there are many bugs (vulnerabilities) in this version of the software, and it is best for ordinary users not to install it.
It is mainly for developers to test the product by themselves, check whether the product has defects or errors, and verify whether the product function is consistent with the manual and user manual.
Beta (beta)
This version has been greatly improved compared to the alpha version, eliminating serious bugs, but there are still some defects that need to be further eliminated through large-scale release testing.
This version is usually released for free by software companies, and users can download it from relevant sites. Through the tests of some professional enthusiasts, the results are fed back to the developers, who then make targeted modifications.
This version is also not suitable for general user installation.
Trial
software has become quite popular in recent years, mainly due to the rapid development of the Internet.
This version of the software usually has a time limit. If the user wants to continue to use it after the expiration date, he or she generally has to pay a certain fee for registration or purchase.
Some trial versions of software also have certain limitations in function.
The unregistered unregistered
version is very similar to the trial version, except that the unregistered version usually has no time limit, and has certain restrictions in terms of functions compared with the official version,
such as the registered version and unregistered version of most VoIP software. There is a big difference in call quality.
Some of them are the same as the official version in use, but an annoying message box will pop up every now and then to remind you to register, such as the picture viewing software acdsee, the intelligent Chenqiao Chinese character input software, etc.
The demo
is also called the demo version, which mainly demonstrates some functions of the official software, from which the user can learn the basic operation of the software and expand the influence for the release of the official product.
If it's a game, there are only one or two levels to play. This version can also be downloaded for free from the Internet.
The demo version only integrates a few functions in the official version, which is a bit like unregistered (unregistered; unregistered).
The difference is that the demo version generally cannot be changed to the official version by upgrading or registering.
The above are several versions before the official version of the software is released. α, β and γ can be called beta versions. Most mature software will always have multiple beta versions, such as the beta version of Windows 98, there are nearly 10 before and after.
There are so many beta versions on the one hand to meet the needs of users as much as possible for the final product, and on the other hand to minimize the bugs in the software.
The trial, unregistered, and demo are sometimes collectively referred to as the demo version. The advertisements of this type of version are more colorful and have a taste of first-try-before-buy. For ordinary users, they can naturally try it for free.
formal edition
The release
version means "final release version". After a series of beta versions, there will eventually be an official version. For users, it is absolutely not wrong to buy this version of the software.
This version is also sometimes referred to as the Standard Edition. Under normal circumstances, release will not appear on the cover of the software as a word, but replaced by the symbol ®, such as windows NT® 4.0, ms-dos® 6.22, etc.
registered
Obviously, this version is the registered version as opposed to unregistered.
The registered version and release, like the standard version mentioned below, are the official version of the software, but a large part of the predecessor of the registered version software is downloaded from the Internet.
standard
这是最常见的标准版，不论是什么软件，标准版一定存在。
标准版中包含了该软件的基本组件及一些常用功能，可以满足一般用户的需求。其价格相对高一级版本而言还是“平易近人”的。
deluxe
顾名思义即为“豪华版”。豪华版通常是相对于标准版而言的，主要区别是多了几项功能，
价格当然会高出一大块，不推荐一般用户购买。此版本通常是为那些追求“完美”的专业用户所准备的。
Enhance
如果是一般软件，一般称作“增强版”，会加入一些实用的新功能。如果是游戏，一般称作“加强版”，会加入一些新的游戏场景和游戏情节等。这是正式发售的版本。
reference
该版本型号常见于百科全书中，比较有名的是微软的encarta系列。
reference是最高级别，其包含的主题、图像、影片剪辑等相对于standard和deluxe版均有大幅增加，
容量由一张光盘猛增至三张光盘，并且加入了很强的交互功能，当然价格也不菲。可以这么说，这一版本的百科全书才能算是真正的百科全书，也是发烧友们收藏的首选。
professional
专业版是针对某些特定的开发工具软件而言的。专业版中有许多内容是标准版中所没有的，
这些内容对于一个专业的软件开发人员来说是极为重要的。如微软的visual foxpro标准版并不具备编译成可执行文件的功能，
这对于一个完整的开发项目而言显然是无法忍受的，若客户机上没有foxpro将不能使用。如果用专业版就没有这个问题了。
enterprise
企业版是开发类软件中的极品（相当于百科全书中的reference版）。
拥有一套这种版本的软件可以毫无障碍地开发任何级别的应用软件。
如著名的visual c++的企业版相对于专业版来说增加了几个附加的特性，如sql调试、扩展的存储过程向导、支持as/400对ole db的访问等。而这一版本的价格也是普通用户无法接受的。
如微软的visual studios 6.0 enterprise中文版的价格为23000元。
Ultimate
从英文字面意思上来说是 1. 最后的， 最终的2. 基本的， 根本的3. 最大的， 极限程度 的意思，
用Ultimate命名的版本拥有最强大，最完全的功能，最佳的稳定性等优良特性，并且与同类软件相比，
集成了所有的功能并有一些特殊的服务提供.Ultimate专为骨灰级的使用者设计，以完善，完美，为宗旨.也是众多用户追捧的一个版本，当然，售价也是最高的.
其他版本
update
升级版的软件是不能独立使用的，该版本的软件在安装过程中会搜索原有的正式版，
如果不存在，则拒绝执行下一步。如microsoft office 2000升级版、windows 9x升级版等等。
oem
oem版通常是捆绑在硬件中而不单独销售的版本。将自己的产品交给别的公司去卖，保留自己的著作权，双方互惠互利，一举两得。
单机版
网络版在功能、结构上远比单机版复杂，如果留心一下软件的报价，你就会发现某些软件单机版和网络版的价格相差非常大，有些网络版甚至多一个客户端口就要加不少钱。
普及版
该版本有时也会被称为共享版，其特点是价格便宜（有些甚至完全免费）、功能单一、针对性强（当然也有占领市场、打击盗版等因素）。
与试用版不同的是，该版本的软件一般不会有时间上的限制。当然，如果用户想升级，最好还是去购买正式版。
以上是一些常见软件版本的简要介绍，随着软件市场行为的变化，现在也出现了一些新的版本命名方式，
比如windows xp中的xp是取自于experience中的第二、第三个字母。希望以上内容能够对大家的购买、使用和下载软件有所帮助。