You may remember that last week, when talking about the Microsoft Edge insider program, I also mentioned the Windows Insiders program, specifically alluding to an aspect in which it occurred a small but striking difference between the two. Specifically, what I was commenting on is that while in the browser the channel where we can find the most unstable versions but, at the same time, the first to test many new functions was the Canary channel, in the case of the Windows testing was the Dev channel, which in the case of the browser is the middle channel of the three available.
Let’s remember, at a glance, the organization of the channels of both programs:
| windows | edge | Description |
| Dev | canaries | More news, more unstable |
| Beta | Dev | Midpoint between news and stability |
| Preview | Beta | Less new, more stable |
It’s not a problem, really, but doesn’t it seem a bit strange? Dev and Beta channel names don’t match in both programs?
This is because Microsoft adopted the name “Canary” when making the leap to Chromium, with which it uses a deployment strategy called Canary Deployment, quite common in agile development models. It is a common denomination, in fact Google Chrome also has a Canary version, which is also available to all users who wish to download and try it.
Well, today I was surprised, and it seems that Microsoft was listening to me (or that I was listening to them), since today we have learned that The Windows Insiders program will soon launch a new channel, called Canaryand which indicates that those from Redmond are also considering using this deployment strategy for their operating system, something that at least a priori seems very good news.
Thus, the Windows Insiders program will have four channels, the current three but now add up to a fourth, which makes the models of both programs more similar:
| windows | edge | Description |
| canaries | canaries | More news, more unstable |
| Dev | Dev | Somewhat more reliable than Canary |
| Beta | Beta | Less new, more stable |
| Preview | Almost as stable and reliable as the final version |
Thus, the Canary and Dev channels of the Windows Insiders program remain the least trustworthy options and, therefore, those that should never be installed in systems on which we depend to study, work, communicate, etc. Now, news and tests that affect critical operating system components, such as the kernel, are moved to the Canary channel, while the Dev channel is “rebooted,” to accommodate early deployment of operating system features.
More information
