Bakportade

Bakportade is a term used in software development to describe changes that have been ported back from a newer software version to an older one. The term derives from the Swedish verb bakportera (to backport) and mirrors the English concept of backporting. A backport typically concerns fixes, security patches, or selected features that are valuable enough to apply to an actively supported but older release without upgrading to the latest version.

The practice aims to improve security and stability on long-term support releases while preserving compatibility with existing configurations. It is common in Linux distributions, such as Debian, Ubuntu, and Red Hat, and in other open-source projects that maintain multiple release lines. Backporting helps address vulnerabilities and regressions in older software without forcing users to upgrade to a newer major release.

The process usually involves selecting a relevant fix from a newer branch and applying it to the older branch, often through cherry-picking commits or applying a patch series. Developers must verify API and behavior compatibility, adjust for differences between versions, and conduct regression testing. If a straightforward port is not feasible, maintainers may craft a bespoke patchset and document any limitations or caveats.

Contexts and considerations include the balance between security, stability, and maintenance effort. Backporting reduces exposure to known issues in older releases but can introduce integration risks and ongoing patch management costs. Projects often publish formal backporting policies and designate specific releases eligible for backports.

See also: backport, cherry-pick (version control), security patch.