Production vs development version numbers

Production vs development version numbers

[Joshua Stewart]

I understand that even numbered versions are considered "stable"
releases and odd numbers represent development versions, but there are
some details I don't yet understand.

If an even version is "stable", what types of differences are there
between different patch levels of an even version, for example 2.4.x and
2.4.y.  Are these bug fixes, performance boosters, or functionality
additions?

Also, when fixes are made to a stable version kernel, such as those
added to 2.4.19 to give us 2.4.20, do those fixes get incorporated into
the current development version as well?

Thanks,
	Josh (a kernel newbie)

Re: Production vs development version numbers

[Horst von Brand]

Joshua Stewart <joshua.stewart@comcast.net>  said:

[...]

> If an even version is "stable", what types of differences are there
> between different patch levels of an even version, for example 2.4.x and
> 2.4.y.  Are these bug fixes, performance boosters, or functionality
> additions?

Usually; but not always. Sometimes support for new hardware is added, and
there have been cases on larger scale changes.

> Also, when fixes are made to a stable version kernel, such as those
> added to 2.4.19 to give us 2.4.20, do those fixes get incorporated into
> the current development version as well?

The two veersions usually diverge rather fast. Changes in the development
version are sometimes backported to the stable version(s), sometimes fixes
form the stable series find their way into the development series.
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