Versions and Releases
The D compiler labels sets of types, variables, functions, constants, and translators corresponding
to a particular software release using a version string. A version string is
a period-delimited sequence of decimal integers of the form “x” (a Major release),
“x.y” (a Minor release), or “x.y.z” (a Micro release). Versions are compared by comparing
the integers from left to right. If the leftmost integers are not equal,
the string with the greater integer is the greater (and therefore more recent)
version. If the leftmost integers are equal, the comparison proceeds to the next
integer in order from left to right to determine the result. All unspecified
integers in a version string are interpreted as having the value zero during
a version comparison.
The DTrace version strings correspond to the standard nomenclature for interface versions, as
described in attributes(5). A change in the D programming interface is accompanied by
a new version string. The following table summarizes the version strings used by
DTrace and the likely significance of the corresponding DTrace software release.
Table 20-1 DTrace Release Versions
Release |
Version |
Significance |
Major |
x.0 |
A Major release
is likely to contain major feature additions; adhere to different, possibly incompatible Standard
revisions; and though unlikely, could change, drop, or replace Standard or Stable interfaces
(see Chapter 18, Stability). The initial version of the D programming interface is labeled as
version 1.0. |
Minor |
x.y |
Compared to an x.0 or earlier version (where y is not equal
to zero), a new Minor release is likely to contain minor feature additions,
compatible Standard and Stable interfaces, possibly incompatible Evolving interfaces, or likely incompatible Unstable
interfaces. These changes may include new built-in D types, variables, functions, constants, and
translators. In addition, a Minor release may remove support for interfaces previously labeled as
Obsolete (see Chapter 18, Stability). |
Micro |
x.y.z |
Micro releases are intended to be interface compatible with the
previous release (where z is not equal to zero), but are likely to
include bug fixes, performance enhancements, and support for additional hardware. |
|
In general, each new version of the D programming interface will provide a
superset of the capabilities offered by the previous version, with the exception of
any Obsolete interfaces that have been removed.
