Understand Software Version Numbers System

Posted by admin on August 14, 2009 under Software Architect | Be the First to Comment

Have you ever tried to decipher the software version numbers? Here is a nice article by Matthias Kahlert.

Related Terms – Software Build Number, Version Numbering System, Software Release Numbering, Verizon Software Update Number, Apple Numbers Software, Number 6 Software, Software Serial Number, Number Six Software

Have you ever wondered what the digits of the version numbers are meaning? Here is the answer:

Version Number Layout

Version number usually consist of three digits. A change in the first digit indicates a major enhancement, a change in the second digit indicates a feature update, and a change in the third digit indicates a bug fix or a correction. If just the last digit changes, there is usually no change in the user interface or in the application layout, it’s just a fix in the application code that the user normally can’t see or recognize. If the third digit of the version number is a zero (0) is it usually dropped. So “My Application v5.3.0″ is called “My Application v5.3″, or “Second Application v7.0.0″ is called “Second Application v7.0″.

If you also release beta versions or development versions, you can also put that beta number behind the version number, starting with an “d” (development) or “b” (beta).

For example “My Application v5.3.2b5″ tells the user:

• This application had 5 major updates or enhancements.
• There have been three minor updates since version v5.0.
• You did 2 bug fixes in version v5.3.
• And it is the 5th beta version of v5.3.2.

Using such a numbering system the user can easily see, if he uses the most recent version of your application and how many updates you released since he got his first copy of it.

Application and File Names

You should also use these version number in the file names of your applications. This helps, especially on large CD-ROM collections, to find the most recent version.

For example I cataloged all of my applications in a kind of file database, and when I search for a specific file, it’s always fine to get version number in the search results.

You should also include the version number in the file names on your FTP site. If your application is named “My Application” and the version number is v5.3.2, the FTP file name should be “my-application-532.sit.hqx”. In this case the dots inside the version number are usually removed.