Naming rules and formats of software project version numbers

From: http://www.bbbear.org/index.php/archives/42

 

Currently, there are three mainstream software version number management solutions:

I. Naming rules and formats

1. GNU solution:
Naming rules: Major version number. Subversion number [. Corrected version number [compiled version number]
Comparison: major_version_number.minor_version_number [. revision_number [. build_number]
Examples: 1.1.5, 2.0, 2.1.0 build-1781

2. Windows solution:
Naming rules: Major version number. Subversion number [corrected version number [compiled version number]
Comparison: major_version_number.minor_version_number [revision_number [. build_number]
Example: 1.15, 2.0

3.. NET Framework solution:
Naming rules: Major version number. Subversion number [. Build version number [. Modify version number]
Comparison: major_version_number.minor_version_number [. build_number [. revision_number]
Note: the version number consists of two to four parts: Main version number, minor version number, internal version number, and revision number. The main version number and minor version number are required. The internal version number and revision number are optional. However, if the revision number is defined, the internal version number is required. All defined parts must be integers greater than or equal to 0.

Ii. Some conventions

1. Major: an assembly with the same name but different major version numbers cannot be exchanged. For example, this applies to a large number of product rewriting, which makes backward compatibility impossible.
2. Minor: if the names of the two sets are the same as those of the primary version, but the minor version number is different, this indicates a significant enhancement, but takes care of backward compatibility. For example, this applies to the product's revised version or a new version that is fully backward compatible.
3. Build: different internal version numbers indicate re-Compilation of the same source. This is suitable for changing the processor, platform, or compiler.
4. Revision: The names, major version numbers, and minor version numbers are the same, but the different revision numbers of the Assembly should be completely interchangeable. This applies to fixing security vulnerabilities in previously released assemblies.
5. Only later versions with different internal version numbers or revision numbers are considered as hotfix updates of previous versions.

Iii. Version Number Management Policy

1. GNU solution:

• In the initial version of the project, the version number can be 0.1 or 0.1.0 or 1.0 or 1.0.0. If you are a low-profile user, I think you will choose the primary version number 0;
• When the project is partially modified or the bug is corrected, the main version number and sub-version number remain the same, and the corrected version number is added to 1;
• When some functions are added to the project on the basis of the original, the main version number remains unchanged, the sub-version number is added with 1, and the corrected version number is reset to 0, so it can be ignored;
• When the project has been significantly modified or partially corrected, the overall project changes globally, and the main version number is increased by 1;
• In addition, the compilation version number is generally automatically generated by the compiler during the compilation process. Only the format is defined and is not subject to human control.

2. Windows solution:

• The first project version is 1.0 or 1.00;
• When the project is partially modified or the bug is corrected, the main version number and sub-version number remain the same, and the corrected version number is added to 1;
• When some functions are added to the project on the basis of the original, the main version number remains unchanged, the sub-version number is added with 1, and the corrected version number is reset to 0, so it can be ignored;
• When the project has been significantly modified or partially corrected, the overall project changes globally, and the main version number is increased by 1;
• In addition, the compilation version number is generally automatically generated by the compiler during the compilation process. We only define the format and do not manually control it.

Iv. suffix

In addition, you can add suffixes such as alpha, beta, gamma, current, RC (Release Candidate), release, and stable to the end of the version number. You can also add a version number of one digit to the end of the suffix. If a user upgrades the main version of a software and wants to continue the software, the company that issues the Software generally charges the user for the upgrade; if the sub-version number or the corrected version number is upgraded, it is generally free of charge.

Appendix: Common suffixes and descriptions

• Alpha internal Beta
• Beta external test
• Demo Version
• The enhance enhanced version or enhanced version belongs to the official version.
• Free Edition
• Full Version: The full version belongs to the official version.
• Shareware shared version
• Release of release has a time limit
• Upgrade upgrade
• Retail Edition
• Cardware is a type of shared software. You only need to reply an email or postcard to the author. (Some authors provide registration codes). Currently, this form is rare.
• Plus is an enhanced version, but most of this type is enhanced on the program interface and multimedia functions.
• Preview
• Corporation & Enterprise Edition
• Standard
• The Mini version is also called Lite version with only the most basic functions
• Premium-Premium Edition
• Professional-Professional Edition
• Express-Special Edition
• Deluxe-deluxe edition
  Regged-registered version
• CN-Simplified Chinese version
• CHT-Traditional Chinese Version
• En-English Version
• Multilanguage

V. Others

Alpha version
This version indicates that the software is only a preliminary finished product. It is usually only communicated within the software developer, and a few of them are released to professional testers. In general, this version of software has many bugs, and it is recommended that you do not install it.

Beta
This version has been greatly improved compared with alpha version, eliminating serious errors, but there are still some defects that need to be further eliminated through large-scale release tests. This version is usually released free of charge by software companies and can be downloaded from related sites. Through tests by professional enthusiasts, the results are fed back to developers and developers can make targeted changes. This version is not suitable for general users.

Gamma
This version is quite mature and is almost the same as the official version to be released. If you can't wait, try it out.

Trial (trial version)
Trial software has been quite popular in recent years, mainly thanks to the rapid development of the Internet. This version of the software usually has a time limit. If you want to continue using it after expiration, you generally have to pay a certain fee for registration or purchase. Some Trial software also imposes certain functional limitations.

Unregistered (unregistered Version)
The Unregistered version is very similar to the trial version, but the unregistered version usually has no time limit. In terms of functions, it imposes certain restrictions on the formal version, such as the registration version and unregistered version of the vast majority of VoIP Software, there is a big gap between the two in terms of call quality. Some of them are similar to the official version, but an annoying message box will pop up to remind you to register, such as ACDSee and smart Chen Qiao Chinese Character Input Software.

Demo Version
It is also known as the demo version, which is the most popular among non-official software. The demo version only integrates several functions in the official version, which is a bit like unregistered. The difference is that the demo version cannot be changed to the official version by upgrading or registering it.
The above are the previous versions of the software official version. Alpha, beta, and gamma can be called test versions. There will always be multiple test versions of mature software, such as Windows 98 beta version, there are nearly 10. So many beta versions, on the one hand, try to satisfy the user's needs for the final product, and on the other hand, minimize bugs in the software. Trial, unregistered, and demo are sometimes collectively referred to as the demo version. These versions have a strong color of advertisement and are a bit preemptible. For ordinary users, they can naturally enjoy them for free.

Official version
The official versions of different types of software are also different.

Release
This version means "the final release version". After a series of Beta versions, there will eventually be an official version. for users, the software purchased for this version will never be wrong. This version is also known as the Standard Edition. In general, release does not appear on the software cover in the form of words, instead of symbols (R), such as Windows NT (r) 4.0, MS-DoS (r) 6.22.

Registered
Obviously, this version is the registration version relative to unregistered. The registration and release versions are the same as the standard versions mentioned below. They are all official versions of the software, but a large part of the predecessor of the registration software is downloaded from the Internet.

Standard
This is the most common Standard Edition, No matter what software, the Standard Edition must exist. The standard edition includes the basic components of the software and some common functions to meet the needs of general users. Its price is relatively higher than that of the first-level version.

Deluxe
As its name implies, it is the "deluxe edition ". The deluxe edition is generally compared with the Standard Edition. The main difference is that there are several more features, and the price will certainly be higher than a large one. It is not recommended for general users. This version is usually prepared for professional users who are pursuing "perfection.

Reference
This version is common in encyclopedias and is famous for Microsoft's Encarta series. Reference is the highest level. Its subject, image, and video editing have greatly increased compared with standard and deluxe versions, and the capacity has increased from one disc to three, and added strong interaction functions, of course, expensive. That can be said, this version of encyclopedia can be regarded as a real encyclopedia, and it is also the first choice for enthusiasts to collect.

Professional (Professional Edition)
The Professional Edition is for some specific development tools and software. Many of the content in the Professional Edition is not available in the Standard Edition, which is extremely important for a professional software developer. For example, Microsoft's Visual FoxPro Standard Edition does not have the ability to compile into executable files, which is obviously intolerable for a complete development project. It cannot be used without FoxPro on the client. If you use the Professional Edition, there will be no such problem.

Enterprise Edition)
The Enterprise Edition is the best in development software (equivalent to the reference edition in the encyclopedia ). With a set of such software, you can develop any level of application software without any obstacles. For example, the famous visual c ++ Enterprise Edition has added several additional features compared with the Professional Edition, such as SQL debugging, extended stored procedure wizard, and support for AS/400 access to OLE DB. The price of this version is unacceptable to common users. For example, Microsoft's visual studios 6.0 enterprise Chinese version costs 23000 yuan.

Other Versions
In addition to the versions described above, there are also some proprietary version names.

Update (upgraded version)
The upgraded software cannot be used independently. During installation, the software of this version searches for the original official version. If it does not exist, the next step is rejected. Such as Microsoft Office 2000 and Windows 9X.

OEM version
The OEM version is usually bundled in hardware and not sold separately. You can sell your products to other companies to retain their copyright. The two parties will enjoy mutual benefit and win two birds in one fell swoop.

Standalone (network) version
The online version is far more complex in terms of functions and structure than the standalone version. if you pay attention to the software quotation, you will find that the prices of some software standalone versions differ greatly from those of the online version, some online versions require a lot of money to add even more client ports.

Popular edition
This version is sometimes referred to as a shared version. It features low price (or even free of charge), single functionality, and strong pertinence (of course, it also takes over the market, combating piracy and other factors ). Different from the trial version, the software of this version generally has no time limit. Of course, if you want to upgrade, you 'd better purchase the official version.

The above are some mainstream software version number management situations. As the software market behavior changes, there are also some new version naming methods, for example, XP in Windows XP is obtained from the second and third letters in experience.

Based on commercial considerations, many software do not strictly follow this rule. Microsoft is the most famous. For example, his nt series version. We are familiar with NT 4.0. Windows 2000,200 was launched in 2003, and Windows XP was withdrawn in 1 year. Windows was launched in. At first glance, the differences between the versions are quite large, but they will find that their internal versions are different, in fact, the changes are not big, but the interface changes a lot. This is what software companies often do. Windows 2000 is NT 5.0, Windows XP is NT 5.1, Windows 2003 is NT 5.2, and now longhorn is the real nt 6.0 ......