Preperation for release of your software or game

Is there a method you go through besides testing before releasing your software? I could "jaust ship it" and see how it goes but I'm a bit paranoid. I don't really know when it's the perfect time to release software or how to know whether your software reached a level of quality that is excepted by the users, but I guess I will never know that unless I let people try it. Maybe I should have a tutorial up that explains how to use it? I know in the past Software like Word had a tutorial that forces you to go through a tutorial and they also had a mascot that pops up and ask you if you need help...*cough* Mr. Clippy. Those get really annoying although, it might be useful to others. Should I do that before I release it?