A stable version, distribution version or release, also stable, in software development is a version of software whose developers suspect that they do not contain bugs and are therefore suitable for daily use. The release of this version is the final major step in the development of a software version. The stable version usually follows after some trial versions, such as - in chronological order - (pre) alpha versions, (pre) beta versions, release candidates and a release to manufacture (not every step is being used). If release candidates are released, the stable version is often almost the same as the latest release candidate. The stable version of a piece of software usually gets a version number; The previous test versions usually get this number, but they also get the mention that it is a test version.
Although the name seems to imply that stable versions work flawlessly, this is not always the case. After releasing the stable version, updates are often updated to fix later discovered errors. After the update, the software usually gets a light-modified version number (version 5.0 then becomes 5.0.1 (small update) or 5.1 (larger update)). The stable version support and updates will usually be terminated or terminated if a new stable version (upgrade) of the software appears. However, support may take years. Microsoft received Windows XP through 2011, even after the Windows Vista successors appeared in 2007 and Windows 7 in 2009.
For Linux distributions, an edition number is often added to the version number (after a dash or underscore), for example 1.3.3_2 (version 1.3.3, second edition).
wiki
