This is the second Beta for the 2.5 series. It contains several minor fixes and enhancements since beta-1, but should not be a break in backwards compatibility for ABI/linkage. Please see the CHANGES.md file for details (any changes since the first beta will be identified as "beta2".) You are encouraged to try to build and use this beta to help identify anything that should be fixed before the release.
A release candidate will be tagged later this week, probably on Sept 27.
Our current plan is that on October 1 (or very shortly thereafter), to remove any beta or RC designations, release the first supported release of the 2.5 series, and have that become the supported production release family, with 2.4 becoming the obsolete branch with gradually diminishing support in the coming months.