A point release is a minor update to software that increases the version number after a decimal point. It typically fixes bugs or adds minor improvements, but can also include large-scale revisions. Version numbers track changes and are separated by decimal points, with more decimal points indicating fewer changes. Unusual numbering schemes may be used, and the On-Time Release System helps track code changes during development.
In computer software, a point release is usually a minor update to an existing software product. The name comes from a software versioning method in which a major version number is followed by a dot or “dot,” which in turn is followed by the minor version number. Point releases typically fix bugs or add minor improvements to a program rather than introducing major new features, but there’s nothing to prevent large-scale revisions. Unusual numbering systems have been used to indicate moderate changes or development releases. During development, this system can help programmers track changes.
Version numbers are a common way for developers and users to track changes in software programs. While there is no official standard for labeling different releases, many developers use a tiered approach that separates revisions based on the scale or number of changes introduced in each new release. These different levels are separated by decimal points, with the top level or major version number at the far left. In general, the more decimal points to the right of a software update, the fewer changes there will be in that update. For example, a program updated from 1.0 to 1.1 would have more significant changes than a program updated from 1.0 to 1.0.1.
A point release is an update to a software program that increases any part of a version number after a decimal point. An update that takes a program from 1.0 to 1.1 can be considered a point release, but a release that goes from 1.1 to 2.0 cannot. The changes in these updates are often relatively small and may fix bugs, fix security flaws, or add minor new features. A point release that doesn’t add new features is sometimes known as a maintenance release. They are typically provided free of charge to existing commercial software customers, although some companies have broken with this convention to release more feature-rich point-time versions at a cost.
Sometimes point releases may be issued with unusual numbering schemes that skip some numbers or reserve certain numbers for special purposes. A computer operating system sold in the late 1990s upgraded from version 8.1 to 8.5, skipping three versions to indicate that it contained more significant changes than the previous version. Some open source software separates development releases from more stable public releases with an even-odd numbering system after the first decimal point.
During the software release lifecycle, the multi-step process of developing a software project from idea to stable product, the On-Time Release System can help programmers track each other’s code changes. This is especially important in open source projects where many different volunteers contribute in a decentralized way. Because changes happen quickly during development, additional decimal points are often used until a product is ready for public release.
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