What do the numbers in a version typically represent (i.e. v1.9.0.1)?

Question

Maybe this is a silly question, but I\'ve always assumed each number delineated by a period represented a single component of the software. If that\'s true, do they ever rep

Answer 1

The paradigm of major release.minor release.bug fix is pretty common, I think.

In some enterprise support contracts there is $$$ (or breach of contract liability) associated with how a particular release is designated. A contract, for example, might entitle a customer to some number of major releases in a period of time, or promise that there will be fewer than x number of minor releases in a period, or that support will continue to be available for so many releases. Of course no matter how many words are put in to the contract to explain what a major release is versus a minor release, it is always subjective and there will always be gray areas – leading to the possibility that the software vendor can game the system to beat such contractual provisions.