Why does everyone care about Beta 3 so much?

[Ectoman]

While it is a milestone for getting closer to a stable release, there really isn't going to be much of a change at this point from the CVS. Looking at the bugs that are out there now, they aren't very critical or even important fixes that need to be accomplished. Just a few browser specific problems related to random non-mainstream browsers people are using.. or issues with language packs and formatting. A few new requests.. a few issues with boards with several languages.. etc. And a few more that won't be looked at until RC 1, or 2 or 3 or Gold come out.

Why not download the CVS and give it a shot now? You won't notice much of a difference between that, and the Beta 3 when it comes out.

[Case]

it is a milestone for getting closer to a stable release

Yep. Thats pretty much it for me.

[Dog Cow]

I care because I love to run through it and look at how the code works! Plus, it's another milestone!

[edmnexus]

For me it's because it's an indicator it isn't going to take years to hit a release we can actually put into production. There isn't even a guarantee at this point that Beta 2 will be compatible via upgrade to RC1 and/or RTM.

[DavidMJ]

UTF-8. This is a very significant change.

[Ectoman]

UTF-8. This is a very significant change.

Hasn't UTF-8 already been completed in CVS?

I understand its signifigantly different from Beta 2, but from the current CVS to Beta 3, there won't be much difference?

[EvilNui]

I want to have phpbb 3.0, but we know that they will release a third beta before that can happen, so I eagerly await the third beta.
Plus, it's a psychological thing as well... since it is a milestone... something bigger that indicates that we are closer to a stable release. It's all about motivation

[textilebbs]

It is more powful than before and one-up world wide.

[DanoruX]

Isn't that uber-cool template being released with b3?

[nwbasser]

UTF-8. This is a very significant change.

That alone makes it worth the wait!!!