How to test new features in Joomla!

[Sabirghk]

How can I test new things in Joomla

[AMurray]

A few ideas for testing Joomla.

• Install Joomla and use it as you would normally.
• There is a "testers guide" somewhere on Joomla.org with a list of the things one should test but I'm not sure where.
• Periodically the dev team will request Release Candidates (see the Announcements Forum) be tested. Joomla comes out with updates about every 6 weeks on average. The Release Candidate (RC) comes out about 14 days before the final stable release, and the Announcements forum will have a post requesting testing (and a list of all the bugs and security fixes (or new features, if applicable) completed for that release. Typical testing might include ensuring the RC Joomla Update component works, with updating a current Joomla to the RC version or testing extensions that work with the RC and so forth (plus testing every other function of the CMS methodically).
• You can test the nightly builds of future planned releases(found here: https://developer.joomla.org/nightly-builds.html) which are alpha or beta stage builds of upcoming releases but not for production sites - testing only.
• You can also install the Patch Tester component which allows you to temporarily install any patches developed to fix bugs or security issues (not new features AFAIK)
• Refer to the Github site for more on the activity concerning the actual development.
• Similarly the Issue Tracker allows you to submit your own bugs or requests for fixes, or feature requests but bear in mind the volunteer community's time and resource capacity.

Hope that gives you a few starting points.