Technical Support
Software
Version Numbering Standard
This document describes the version numbering scheme that Gennum is now using for its software releases. (Software released before December 1999 may not conform to this standard.)
All software published on Gennum Software Archive Web Site is "stable" (final release) quality and has "even" minor version numbers (see version numbering explanation below). If you are interested in helping to beta test new Gennum software, please contact software@gennum.com
The format is:
x.y.z
x is the major version. This number is updated when a major change occurs or when a certain planned set of features have been implemented.
y is the minor version. This number is incremented as a new series of software releases begins. If y is even, the series is a "stable" series and only minor, well-tested features and bug fixes are being added. If y is odd, the series is a "development" series and is probably beta (or more likely alpha) quality and features could change at any time. A stable and development series may exist at the same time. In this case, the stable series would be used to support developments that are already in production, where stability and backwards compatibility are very important, while the development series would be used by people working on new developments. Normally updates to the stable series would happen less frequently than development series updates. Eventually development series stabilize and become the next stable series.
z is the "patch" number. This number is incremented whenever the software is updated within a series.
Example:
- Gennum releases stable version 1.0.0 of a new software product.
- Shortly after, Gennum releases version 1.1.0 which is the development version of the same product. This series of releases would contain new features that Gennum wants to receive feedback on, but would be too volatile (subject to change) for users who are only interested in minor improvements and bug fixes.
- The development of the 1.1.x series continues, and Gennum releases 1.1.1, 1.1.2 and 1.1.3 over the next month (the users who are interested in the development series should not be concerned if Gennum releases new versions frequently).
- Gennum finds a (minor) bug while working on the development series that also exists in the stable series. Gennum releases 1.0.1 and 1.1.4 simultaneously containing the bug fix.
- Eventually Gennum does all of the work that it plans to do on 1.1.x, and stops adding features for a while, allowing the code to stabilize.
- After Gennum is satisfied that the 1.1.x is stable, 1.2.0 is released.
- Shortly after 1.2.0 is released, Gennum starts the next development series with 1.3.0.
- And so on...
When the version number is displayed in the title bar or About box in an application, the following format is used:
Version 0.8.5 Beta [11/15/1999] |
