Software versioning is a numbering system used to track changes between different versions of software programs. It serves two purposes: internal communication among developers and external communication to customers. There is no set standard for software versioning, but it typically uses a number system with decimals indicating minor updates. External indicators are easier to follow and may use names or numbers.
Software versioning is a system by which different versions of a particular software program are numbered both for internal use and by version designation. This system makes it easier for software developers to track changes between versions, and allows customers and software users to better recognize updated versions. Typically a number system is used, often with a decimal used to indicate minor version updates. Software version indications have entered popular usage and mainstream lexicon because of this system’s importance in enabling software users to troubleshoot and find software updates.
There is no set standard way software versioning should be done, and the methods used will typically depend on the company developing a computer software. Ultimately, software versioning serves two main but very different purposes: internal communication to developers working on a program, and external communication of new versions to potential customers. When used internally, this system doesn’t have to follow a method that makes sense to someone outside the company, but it is often chosen to convey information quickly and effectively to other developers.
Software versioning is typically used internally to allow different programmers to indicate when changes, especially significant changes, have been made to a program. This usually appears similar to “Software Name 1.0” or “Software Name 1.10”, although different notations may be used. In general, this notation indicates major releases before a decimal point or other separator, with minor release updates in second, third, and even fourth positions.
For example, “Version 0.5.1.15” could be used to indicate that the program is not ready for release, as the first position often indicates a release version; which is in its fifth major pre-release; the program has undergone a change during this release; and that 15 minor changes occurred within this cycle. This same information could also potentially be passed as “1a.5.1-15” to indicate version one alpha, meaning pre-release, and indicate the latest information using mixed indicators. As long as a single system is used internally for software versioning, information can still be conveyed effectively for developers to understand.
External software version indicators, on the other hand, are usually much easier to follow. This information can be completely separated from the internal designations as it is primarily intended to inform consumers that a new version of the program has been released. While the number system is used in many situations, rarely going beyond two digits such as “1.5” or “2.0” – names are also often used to indicate a new version. Microsoft®, for example, initially used numbers for Windows 1.0®, then changed to years of release for versions like Windows 98®, and then changed to names like Windows Vista®, before switching back to numerical indicators with Windows 7®. Software versioning has come into common use in a number of different contexts, such as updated versions of novels or films labeled with “1.5” or “2.0” designations.
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