How does the Python version numbering scheme work?
A. Python versions are numbered A.B.C. A is the major version number — it is only incremented for major changes in functionality or source structure. B is the minor version number, incremented for less earth-shattering changes to a release. C is the patchlevel — it is incremented for each new release. Note that in the past, patches have added significant changes; in fact the changeover from 0.9.9 to 1.0.0 was the first time that either A or B changed!
Python versions are numbered A.B.C or A.B. A is the major version number — it is only incremented for really major changes in the language. B is the minor version number, incremented for less earth-shattering changes. C is the micro-level — it is incremented for each bugfix release. See PEP 6 for more information about bugfix releases. Not all releases are bugfix releases. In the run-up to a new major release, a series of development releases are made, denoted as alpha, beta, or release candidate. Alphas are early releases in which interfaces aren’t yet finalized; it’s not unexpected to see an interface change between two alpha releases. Betas are more stable, preserving existing interfaces but possibly adding new modules, and release candidates are frozen, making no changes except as needed to fix critical bugs. Alpha, beta and release candidate versions have an additional suffix. The suffix for an alpha version is “aN” for some small number N, the suffix for a beta version is “bN”
Python versions are numbered A.B.C or A.B. A is the major version number — it is only incremented for really major changes in the language. B is the minor version number, incremented for less earth-shattering changes. C is the micro-level — it is incremented for each bugfix release. See PEP 6 for more information about bugfix releases. Not all releases are bugfix releases. In the run-up to a new major release, a series of development releases are made, denoted as alpha, beta, or release candidate. Alphas are early releases in which interfaces aren’t yet finalized; it’s not unexpected to see an interface change between two alpha releases. Betas are more stable, preserving existing interfaces but possibly adding new modules, and release candidates are frozen, making no changes except as needed to fix critical bugs. Alpha, beta and release candidate versions have an additional suffix. The suffix for an alpha version is “aN” for some small number N, the suffix for a beta version is “bN” fo
