Release Candidate Viewer (1.18.3.2) no longer usable?

I cannot login with the the old Release Candidate Viewer (1.18.3.2). I can log in with my trusty old 1.18.0.6 though. Is it Linden Lab's intention to render older versions of Release Candidate Viewers unusable with the release of each new one?

okay i generaly am able to keep up and I do admit I was away for about 5 weeks there uh but I have no idea what this "candidate viewer" means I just read a bit on the blog for this one.

What is the english translation for "release candidate viewer" my SL dictionary needs updating does it mean the latest viewer is ready for download for the grid and its optional? err or? gah

I know they were working on optional updates and they were put into place but this new SL term just krept in when I was not looking.. and my brain hurts right now so can someone translate? thanks

I just got in with no problem using the 1.18.3 (2) Release Candidate. (I use the Linux version, but the messaging should be the same regardless.)

A "release candidate" viewer is out for testing. It's a candidate to become the next regular release, but not ready yet. People use it, report bugs, it (hopefully) gets fixed and improved, and then becomes an official release.

I think "release candidate" is an increasingly common term for something between a Beta and a final release. That is not official SL info though.

Any code monkeys out there that can help me out?

thanks kinda like the first look series that we were testing/using

Yes! "First Look' was the term I was trying to dig out of my brain and couldn't find. I think it is pretty much the same thing with a new name.

I started getting very heavy packet loss the last few days using the "first look" RC version and finaly gave up on it

Second Life's use of "Release Candidate" as a term is in keeping with standard usage, while terms like "First Look" are peculiar to SL.

"Release Candidate" means "we think this one might become the next "Current Version".

The following software release stages are mentioned in wikipedia:
Pre-alpha
Alpha
Beta
Release candidate
Gold or general availability release

==== from Wikipedia =========

"Release candidate

The term release candidate refers to a version with potential to be a final product, ready to release unless fatal bugs emerge. In this stage, the product features all designed functionalities and no known showstopper class bugs. At this phase the product is usually code complete.

Microsoft Corporation often uses the term release candidate. During the 1990s, Apple Computer used the term "golden master" for its release candidates, and the final golden master was the general availability release. Other terms include gamma (and occasionally also delta, and perhaps even more Greek letters) for versions that are substantially complete, but still under test, and omega for final testing of versions that are believed to be bug-free, and may go into production at any time. (Gamma, delta, and omega are, respectively, the third, fourth, and last letters of the Greek alphabet.) Some users disparagingly refer to release candidates and even final "point oh" releases as "gamma test" software, suggesting that the developer has chosen to use its customers to test software that is not truly ready for general release. Often, beta testers, if privately selected, will be billed for using the release candidate as though it were a finished product.

A release is called code complete when the development team agrees that no entirely new source code will be added to this release. There may still be source code changes to fix defects. There may still be changes to documentation and data files, and to the code for test cases or utilities. New code may be added in a future release."

==== end of wikipedia quote =======

"First Look" is an experimental version for testing out new ideas - it's sort of the opposite of a release candidate.