Kalmar “alpha software” gabaɗaya tana nufin sigar software ta riga-kafi da har yanzu tana kan matakin farko na haɓakawa kuma tana iya ɗauke da kwari ko wasu matsalolin da ake buƙatar warwarewa. Software na Alpha yawanci ba ya samuwa ga jama'a kuma ana rarraba shi kawai ga ƙayyadaddun gungun masu gwadawa ko masu haɓakawa waɗanda ke aiki akan aikin. Ana ɗaukar irin wannan nau'in software a matsayin farkon farkon ci gaba kuma har yanzu ba ta tsaya tsayin daka ba ko abin dogaro don amfani da yawa.