Neo4j, a popular graph database management system, has adopted a new Release Candidate (RC) strategy to ensure the stability and quality of its upcoming general availability release. The RC will be built from a frozen code base that only accepts bug fixes, providing a more rigorous testing process. This change aims to address concerns about milestone releases introducing breaking changes and new features. Developers are encouraged to download Neo4j 1.8.RC1 for development and testing purposes, with the option to provide feedback on critical issues that may prevent its use in production. The RC includes various fixes and improvements, such as enhancements to the Cypher query language, better error messages, and improved performance. Users can access the RC through immediate download on Neo4j.org or by participating in discussions on the Google Group or Stack Overflow.