Version and Release Policies

Major releases occur when there are substantial changes in functionality or when new functionality breaks backwards compatibility. Releases within the same major release line will maintain API compatibility.

Minor releases add new features, improvements to existing features, and fixes that maintain backwards compatibility.

Patch releases fix bugs and maintain backwards compatibility. Only the latest minor release of a major release line will receive patches. Patch releases happen as needed depending on the urgency of the fix.

Major and minor releases may include prerelease versions (major.minor.patch-alpha.n | -beta.n | -rc.n). Once a release candidate (rc) has been thoroughly tested, the stable release will be published.

A release line, such as Asciidoctor 2.x, enters general availability on the date the initial, final major version (e.g., Asciidoctor 2.0.0) of the software is released and available for download.

Release line is being actively improved and supported.

Once a release line enters its maintenance period, only its most recent minor version will receive critical security patch releases. A release line starts this phase 30 days after the next major release line goes GA.

The date after which the release line no longer receives support or releases.