Early software version (4)
(Other definitions for alpha that I've seen before include "First letter of the Greek alphabet" , "First in order of importance (for a Greek?)" , "Burrowing American rodent" , "Top star" , "Most prominent star" .)
<span class="explanation-format__ClueExplanation">'<span class="explanation-format__original">early software version</span>' is the definition.<br/ ><span class="explanation-format__explanation">(I've seen this in another clue)</span><br/ ><br/ >This is all the clue.<br/ ></span>
(Other definitions for beta that I've seen before include "testing stage" , "software under test" , "Second highest grade of mark" , "Second-class" , "Old character" .)