Release and Lifecycle Definitions

Abstract: Each Embarcadero product release can be categorized as a specific Release Type, which progresses through lifecycle periods at explicit Release Milestones.

Release Types are defined as follows:

Major Release	Major new features, architecture changes, product components Full, standalone product build Will normally be localized Naming convention: X.0 (may also have marketing name that uses the year or some other convention)
Minor Release	May include significant new features beyond previous minor/major version Full, standalone product build Will normally be localized Naming convention: X.Y (may also have marketing name that uses the year or some other convention)
Maintenance Release	May include previously released Service Packs and other fixes Full, standalone product build Naming convention: X.Y.Z
Service Pack	Periodic rollup of Hot fixes and Patches May only be a set of files, not a full, standalone product build Released on a planned availability date Recommended to all customers as part of a proactive maintenance plan Will not normally be localized Naming convention: X.Y Service Pack #Z
Patch	In response to a specific Software Failure May only be a set of files, not a full, standalone product build Released ad-hoc, as soon as available Recommended to all customers to prevent a critical failure Will not normally be localized Naming convention: X.Y Patch #Z
Hotfix	In response to a specific customer-reported Software Failure May only be a set of files, not a full, standalone product build Released ad-hoc, as soon as available, via Tech Support only Typically created in response to Severity-1 issues from Premium Support customers Will not normally be localized Naming convention: X.Y Hotfix #Z

Two additional definitions that are relevant to Release Types:

Major Release Family	Every Major, Minor, and Maintenance Release with the same version number
Version	A specific instance of a Major, Minor, or Maintenance Release, identified by a version number of the form X.Y.Z, where X is a whole number that represents the Major Release, Y is a whole number that represents the Minor Release (or ?0? for the first release in a Major Release Family), and and optional Z is a whole number that represents the Maintenance Release

Lifecycle Periods are defined as follows:

Active Support	Technical Support will open cases and assist customers with issues Version is eligible for Hotfixes, Patches, and Service Packs Active Support will generally be provided for at least one Version within a Major Release Family.
Passive Support	Technical Support will open cases and assist customers with issues Version is NOT eligible for Hotfixes, Patches, and Service Packs To receive corrections to Software Failures, customers must upgrade to another Version, within the same Major Release Family, that is under Active Support
De-supported	Technical Support will open cases, but may not be able to assist customers with issues that are specific to the de-supported version
Extended Support	An additional period of Technical Support for a Major Release Family beyond the De-Support Date May last up to 2 years Support will not be provided for new development work, only for existing deployed production systems No new operating system or environment support will be provided customers must freeze their deployed environment configurations A single version within the Major Release Family will be eligible for Technical Support assistance, Hotfixes, Patches, and Service Packs Other versions will not be eligible for Technical Support Does not apply to every Embarcadero product. Availability will only be announced at Embarcadero’s discretion

Release Milestones are defined as follows:

General Availability	First date on which Technical Support will be made available to customers Term applies to a Major, Minor, or Maintenance Release At GA, the Version will generally enter the Active Support phase
Passive Support Date	Date when a Version moves from Active Support to Passive Support First date on which Version is no longer eligible for sale Not all Versions will pass through this phase. some will move directly to a De-support Date
De-support Date	First date on which all Versions within a Major Release Family are no longer eligible for Technical Support Generally announced by Embarcadero approximately 12 months in advance