CoreOS uses update channels, similar to client software applications such as the Google Chrome browser, Alex Polvi, CEO of CoreOS, told eWEEK. In that model, releases progress through each channel from alpha to beta and then stable. Alpha releases of CoreOS have been ongoing since August 2013, and CoreOS released its first beta on May 9.
“Once a release is considered bug-free, it is promoted bit-for-bit to the next channel,” Polvi said. “Now that we have a stable release, this is the most tested, reliable and secure version of CoreOS.”