Optimize Beta without risking real projects

[Ramirezyya]

I work on client projects and I want to test Beta, but not lose hours if something breaks. I propose two improvements:

1) Immediate rollback in Beta

• Each Beta update should allow installing the previous build directly (one step back, not ten; for example, let 25.6.0.002 roll back to 25.6.0.001, not jump all the way down to 25.4).
• This pinpoints exactly where the bug appears and lets us report with context.
• Benefit: Adobe gets precise feedback and we avoid blocking deliveries.

Safeguard: when rolling back one build, show a clear impact notice and an “I accept” checkbox. Any potential loss would be minimal and explicitly assumed by the user.

2) Beta ↔ Pro coexistence with controlled degradation

• Enable a safe way to open a project started in Beta in the stable version (Pro) when an update breaks a specific tool.
• Accept that new Beta features may degrade or open as read-only in Pro (for example, a new Mask tool).
• Benefit: we keep the workflow moving while still sending feedback to Adobe.

Safeguard: when opening in Pro, display a list of what will degrade or be disabled and offer options like “flatten,” “bake,” or “replace” unsupported effects, always saving a copy.

Final question:
Is it feasible to implement a one-step rollback in Beta and a safe open-in-Pro with controlled degradation? It’s a win-win: better reports for the team and less risk for professionals testing Beta on real work.

[JeanK77]

I fully suport this improvements.

And add for windows systems a third improvement : as soon as you install (any) beta app the default windows app links are redirected to beta.

This links should stay linked to pro apps. (the same happen for all beta apps !!!!  even  PR - AE link is redirected !!!!)

To keep this windows parameters clean you CAN NOT install beta and prod on the same machine.

[Stan Jones]

@JeanK77,

> as soon as you install (any) beta app the default windows app links are redirected to beta.

That has not been my experience. My Beta is in the start menu, but not pinned. The regular version is pinned, and updates to the latest version when I update. Installing/updating the Beta makes no difference. I just added it as pinned, so I'll see if that makes a difference.

Stan

[Ann Bens]

1) It is recommended by the Devs not to use the beta for critical production work.

2) When downgrading a 25.6 project to 25.5 it does tell you certain features are unavailable and must upgrade in order to use them......

For me, it is just darn annoying when a bug pops up preventing me to continue editing.

But then, I don't have a deadline or clients.

[Stan Jones]

@Ramirezyya,

Upvoted for the concept of having an easy roll-back for the Beta. Some of your "extras" ("controlled" degradation) would add significant staff time on an ongoing basis, and I think this reduces the chances of that happening.

My simple version of this concept was to clone my drive before a significant update (usually for the Release versions). And all I was guaranteeing was that my original project could be used. Even that guarantees nothing for a project that has had significant work in a newer version with new features.

A minor suggestion your #1. Not all builds are ever available for public beta use. So the easiest roll-back would be the previous Beta released. For example, let's say that Build 20 was available, and then the next one available was 25. The roll-back for 25 would be 20. Of course, what I would want would be a rollback to my last version. And I might have updated from 10 to 25. So I'd like a rollback to that version.

> Any potential loss would be minimal and explicitly assumed by the user.

Maybe. But if you did not detect a major flaw until you were 2 versions past the flaw, you'd be out of luck. (But any rollback is better than none.)

Stan