semantic versioning : Java Glossary

A standard for version numbering. Oracle/Java does not use it, but you could use it for your own Java apps.

In short, its format for version numbers is:X.y.z-w e.g. 1.2.21-rc2.

• An increase in X indicates a backwards-incompatible change. Code that compiles with 1.4.0 will not necessarily compile with 2.0.0.
• An increase in Y indicates a major, but backwards-compatible change. Code that compiles with 1.4.0 will compile with 1.5.0, but not necessarily vice versa.
• An increase in Z is a bugfix update: code that compiles with 1.4.0 will compile with 1.4.1.
• The w qualifier is extra gunk that may be needed for build processes or prerelease.