87 lines
3.8 KiB
Markdown
87 lines
3.8 KiB
Markdown
# GitLab Maintenance Policy
|
|
|
|
## Versioning
|
|
|
|
GitLab follows the [Semantic Versioning](http://semver.org/) for its releases:
|
|
`(Major).(Minor).(Patch)` in a [pragmatic way].
|
|
|
|
- **Major version**: Whenever there is something significant or any backwards
|
|
incompatible changes are introduced to the public API.
|
|
- **Minor version**: When new, backwards compatible functionality is introduced
|
|
to the public API or a minor feature is introduced, or when a set of smaller
|
|
features is rolled out.
|
|
- **Patch number**: When backwards compatible bug fixes are introduced that fix
|
|
incorrect behavior.
|
|
|
|
For example, for GitLab version 10.5.7:
|
|
|
|
- `10` represents major version
|
|
- `5` represents minor version
|
|
- `7` represents patch number
|
|
|
|
## Patch releases
|
|
|
|
Patch releases usually only include bug fixes and are only done for the current
|
|
stable release. That said, in some cases, we may backport it to previous stable
|
|
release, depending on the severity of the bug.
|
|
|
|
For instance, if we release `10.1.1` with a fix for a severe bug introduced in
|
|
`10.0.0`, we could backport the fix to a new `10.0.x` patch release.
|
|
|
|
### Security releases
|
|
|
|
Security releases are a special kind of patch release that only include security
|
|
fixes and patches (see below).
|
|
|
|
Our current policy is to support one stable release at any given time, but for
|
|
medium-level security issues, we may backport security fixes to the previous two
|
|
monthly releases.
|
|
|
|
For very serious security issues, there is
|
|
[precedent](https://about.gitlab.com/2016/05/02/cve-2016-4340-patches/)
|
|
to backport security fixes to even more monthly releases of GitLab.
|
|
This decision is made on a case-by-case basis.
|
|
|
|
## Upgrade recommendations
|
|
|
|
We encourage everyone to run the [latest stable release](https://about.gitlab.com/blog/categories/releases/) to ensure that you can
|
|
easily upgrade to the most secure and feature-rich GitLab experience. In order
|
|
to make sure you can easily run the most recent stable release, we are working
|
|
hard to keep the update process simple and reliable.
|
|
|
|
If you are unable to follow our monthly release cycle, there are a couple of
|
|
cases you need to consider.
|
|
|
|
It is considered safe to jump between patch versions and minor versions within
|
|
one major version. For example, it is safe to:
|
|
|
|
- Upgrade the patch version:
|
|
- `8.9.0` -> `8.9.7`
|
|
- `8.9.0` -> `8.9.1`
|
|
- `8.9.2` -> `8.9.6`
|
|
- Upgrade the minor version:
|
|
- `8.9.4` -> `8.12.3`
|
|
- `9.2.3` -> `9.5.5`
|
|
|
|
Upgrading the major version requires more attention.
|
|
We cannot guarantee that upgrading between major versions will be seamless. As previously mentioned, major versions are reserved for backwards incompatible changes.
|
|
|
|
We recommend that you first upgrade to the latest available minor version within
|
|
your major version. By doing this, you can address any deprecation messages
|
|
that could possibly change behaviour in the next major release.
|
|
|
|
Please see the table below for some examples:
|
|
|
|
| Latest stable version | Your version | Recommended upgrade path | Note |
|
|
| -------------- | ------------ | ------------------------ | ---------------- |
|
|
| 9.4.5 | 8.13.4 | `8.13.4` -> `8.17.7` -> `9.4.5` | `8.17.7` is the last version in version `8` |
|
|
| 10.1.4 | 8.13.4 | `8.13.4 -> 8.17.7 -> 9.5.10 -> 10.1.4` | `8.17.7` is the last version in version `8`, `9.5.10` is the last version in version `9` |
|
|
| 11.3.4 | 8.13.4 | `8.13.4` -> `8.17.7` -> `9.5.10` -> `10.8.7` -> `11.3.4` | `8.17.7` is the last version in version `8`, `9.5.10` is the last version in version `9`, `10.8.7` is the last version in version `10` |
|
|
|
|
More information about the release procedures can be found in our
|
|
[release-tools documentation][rel]. You may also want to read our
|
|
[Responsible Disclosure Policy][disclosure].
|
|
|
|
[rel]: https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/release-tools/blob/master/doc/
|
|
[disclosure]: https://about.gitlab.com/disclosure/
|
|
[pragmatic way]: https://gist.github.com/jashkenas/cbd2b088e20279ae2c8e
|