EPiServer Early Adoption programs

This article aims to formalize the early adoption programs at EPiServer. The goal with the programs is to gather early feedback on new technology as well as having software running in production environments before general availability to ensure that we have properly addressed actual market needs at the time of the public release.

In keeping with our custom of embracing MS standards, the programs are named TAP (Technology Adoption Program) and RDP (Rapid Deployment Program) and are described below:

EPiServer TAP

This program aims to get early feedback on new technology and has previously gone under the name "CTP program" or "CTP focus group". The number of participants may vary for each TAP and even within a TAP timeframe. Participation requires an invitation from EPiServer and the selection criteria are:

• EMVP's are always invited (description of the EMVP program - old but still accurate).
• Developers are invited primarily based on their CRP ranking (Community Recognition Program) on EPiServer World.
  The reasoning is that a high CRP ranking on World hopefully reflects the participant's willingness to contribute to the EPiServer community with constructive feedback, which is what the TAP is all about.

Individual NDA's

Each participant is required to sign an individual NDA that states that the participant cannot share any information acquired from the TAP program with others (including colleagues).

What TAP participants get:

• Access to regular releases of work in progress (CTP releases)
• Access to closed forums on EPiServer World where other TAP participants as well as the EPiServer product development team discuss feedback and features
• Access to regular webinars where new features are presented by the EPiServer product development team
• Influence over the technology roadmap in general as well as for specific features

EPiServer RDP

This program aims to have new technology deployed and running in production environments before general availability and has previously gone under the name "pilot program". RDP is started later in the development process than TAP. Participation requires an invitation from EPiServer and the selection criteria are:

Partners and/or Customers may request participation or else be asked to participate in an RDP by EPiServer.

Considerations made by EPiServer are:

• Earlier partner experience with the product
• The project's dependency on new technology in the product
• Upgrade scenarios from previous version of the product
• Project launch date is aligned with estimated product RTM

What RDP participants get:

• Access to regular CTP releases (manual upgrades/migrations needed, supporting documentation provided)
• Extensive support directly from the product development team
• The possibility to report bugs that are triaged directly by the product development team
• Access to the absolute latest EPiServer technology
• Access to a closed area on EPiServer World with a forum monitored by the product development team where any blocking issues or bugs can be reported, discussed and where the latest releases and documentation can be found.

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