View source for Friends in testing

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== Introduction ==

[[OLPC]]'s software releases are tested almost entirely by volunteers. This page explains, step by step, what you need to do to get involved.

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== Preparation ==

<!--[[Image:Power-button.jpg|thumb|right|Power & Game buttons for B2 and older XOs.  B3 and newer have "O" at the top and "✓" (check) at the right.]]-->

# Read the [[Friends in testing#Potential risks|potential risks]] below to decide if testing is right for you.
# Get a [[Developer key#Getting a Developer Key for your Running XO Laptop|developer key]] for your XO laptop
# [[How to backup your XO|Backup your XO]] (optional -- you decide).
# [[Clean-install procedure#Development Builds|Clean-install]] or [[Olpc-update|upgrade]] your XO to the {{{{:Friends in testing/current image stream}}-jffs2-link}} test build.
#* If you clean-install, you will lose all your data.
#* The command you enter in [[Terminal Activity]] for upgrade is <br /><tt>sudo [[olpc-update]] <CURRENT/TEST IMAGE></tt>
# Install activities with your favorite [[Activity installation|activity installation method]].
# Help [[Friends in testing#Exploratory Testing|explore]] the OS and activities as described below or run some [[Test cases 8.2.1|formal test cases]].
# Should you need them, [[Friends in testing#Recovery|recovery]] instructions are available.

''Several other test preparation instructions are available, for example in [[OS images]] and in [[Emulating the XO]], and other pages in [[:Category:Preparing for testing]].''

{{:Exploratory testing}}

{{:Systematic testing}}

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== Potential risks ==

This procedure asks you to install alpha software. You may lose all your data. '''Please back up personal files to another source if you would like to keep them.'''

In more detail:

* '''Your XO's software may look and feel "weird."''' The new build you are testing may behave differently from what you're used to (that's the point - it's a new build). Before beginning to test, you can find out the build you're running '''(need link)''', and you can reinstall your original build afterwards '''(need link)'''.
* '''Your Journal will be erased.''' However, you can back up '''(need link for backup)''' and restore '''(need link for restore)''' your Journal afterwards.
* '''Your Activities will be erased.''' However, as with your Journal, you can make a [[customization stick]] with the Activities you want to keep, and restore your Activity set afterwards.
* '''You may brick your machine.''' (That is, leave it "useful only as a brick" - break it so badly you can't fix it.) We've made every effort possible to make sure that the builds that we release for Friends in Testing will not harm your XO, and to provide you with instructions on how to restore your XO to its pre-testing state, but there is a ''very slim'' chance that something might go awry and that you won't be able to restore your XO to its pre-testing state. It's never happened before to our knowledge, but we cannot guarantee it won't ever happen. We'll do our best to be honest with you each week about the risks you might be taking. We hope that, after reading this, you'll still want to participate; we do, however, want to make sure that if you're going to help us out, you know what you might be getting yourself into.

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== Recovery ==

* If your machine becomes unbootable after a clean-install, you can recover by [[Clean-install_procedure#Official releases and candidate builds |clean-installing an official build]].
* If your machine becomes unbootable after an upgrade, you can recover by [[Cheat codes|holding the 'O' gamepad key]] during your next boot.

== Conclusion ==

Thanks very much for your help!

Finally, if you have questions about how to participate, please leave them in [[Talk:Friends in testing]].

[[Category:Participate]]
[[Category:Community testing]]