Once you start playing with software you quickly
become aware that each software package has a version number attached to it. It is
obvious that this version number gives the sequence of changes to the product, but in
reality it gives you substantially more information than that. This article provides a
guide for interpreting the meaning of the version numbers and what they actually signify.
1.0: Also known as "one point uh-oh", or "barely out of beta". We had to release
because the engineers had reached a point of exhaustion and the marketeers were
in a cold sweat of terror. We're praying that you'll find it more functional than,
say, a computer virus and that its operation has some resemblance to that
specified in the marketing copy.
1.1: We fixed all the killer bugs.
1.2: Uh, we introduced a few new bugs fixing the killer bugs and so we had to fix them, too.
2.0: We did the product we really wanted to do to begin with. Mind you, it's really
not what the customer needs yet, but we're working on it.
2.1: Well, not surprisingly, we broke some things in making major changes so we
had to fix them. But we did a really good job of testing this time, so we don't
think we introduced any new bugs while we were fixing these bugs.
2.2: Uh, sorry, one slipped through. One lousy typo error and you won't believe
how much trouble it caused!
2.3: Some jerk found a deep-seated bug that's been there since 1.0 and
wouldn't stop nagging until we fixed it!!
3.0: Hey, we finally think we've got it right! Most of the customers are
really happy with this.
3.01: Of course, we did break a few little things. Not enough to actually
call this 3.1, really.
3.01p2: This is just a patch. Really.
3.1: Okay! Okay! Here's a new version. Satisfied?
4.0: More features. It's doubled in size now, by the way, and you'll need to
get more memory and a faster processor.
4.1: Just one or two bugs this time. Honest!
5.0: We really need to go on to a new product, but we have an installed base out there
to protect. We're cutting the staffing after this.
6.0: We had to fix a few things we broke in 5.0. Not very many, but it's been so long
since we looked at this thing we might as well call it a major upgrade. Oh, yeah, we
added a few flashy cosmetic features so we could justify the major upgrade number.
6.1: Since I'm leaving the company and I'm the last one left in the lab who
works on the product, I wanted to make sure that all the changes I've made are
incorporated before I go. I added some cute demos, too, since I was getting pretty
bored back here in my dark little corner (I kept complaining about the lighting but
they wouldn't do anything). They're talking about obsolescence planning but they'll
try to keep selling it for as long as there's a buck or two to be made. I'm leaving
the bits in as good a shape as I can in case somebody has to tweak them, but it'll
be sheer luck if no one loses them.
95: Guess what? We got a new marketing division!
97: Still got that hot new marketing division, and we're still very very happy with them.
98: Okay, okay, so our new marketing division isn't all that hot. Truth be told, it's
just this one guy who wears too much cologne and used to sell cars. But we'll come up
with an exciting new version real soon now, so just you watch!
2000: Don't you just want to run out and buy this now?
2000.01p12: We think we got all the Y2K bugs out. This time for sure.
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