Platform Version Numbering... Opinions Sought

John T. Haller

(Homepage) - March 5, 2009 - 1:30am

If you haven't tried the current Platform 1.2 RC 3, please do so here:
http://portableapps.com/node/18315

As you can see, I added renaming and hiding to the 1.2 release because I had the time and wanted to get it out there. I'm going to polish it up and post it tomorrow.

But I'm thinking of mentioning that it's just a quick release due to CeBit and then pushing ahead with the followup 1.5 as planned. The only difference is that I'm thinking of taking an extra week on 1.5 and trying to get more translations done to get more of the GUI up. In that case, I'm thinking of calling it 2.0 as it'll have the theme switcher as well as renaming and hiding, run on start, run on exit, etc. If I do that, it might make sense to call 1.2 -> 1.5 as a kind of midpoint marker.

Then we'd start on the next release which would add in advanced theming (form layout changes and stuff), better truecrypt integration, categories, user customizable themes, etc. And that would be called 3.0.

Thoughts?

( categories:

General Discussion

)

I'd tend to agree

Jimbo - March 5, 2009 - 4:16am

Major version number bumps are often associated with huge rewrites or feature additions, the latter of which could certainly apply here, but also with fundamental changes to configuration and backward compatibility.

While virtually the entire thing is fully compatible from version to version, the changes to the theme engine are likely to mean that themes are only compatible with certain versions, and not others, and it would be a lot easier for end users if a downloadable theme was "v3.x compatible" rather than "works with v2.0 - v2.1.4", and might just possibly cut down on some of the support questions...

Also, of course, bumping the major version number reflects just how much work you and the devs put in around here

I agree that 1.2 should be

onestoploser (Homepage) - March 5, 2009 - 7:55am

I agree that 1.2 should be renamed 1.5, and the next release (1.5) be renamed 2.0. Not only is it appropriate (as Jimbo said), but it makes it a little less confusing for new users IMO.

Uhh... Ok.

José Pedro Arvela (Homepage) - March 5, 2009 - 9:33am

I agree with the version bump. Firefox 3.1 will also be bumped to 3.5 for its major features, so I think it is ok to make the bump here regarding the major features shown. And I don't think I need to add any more info to this comment as it is all clear and I agree.

#tuna { color: silver; smell: delicious; }