Singleversion

Singleversion is a concept in version control and software release management referring to the practice of associating each artifact with one canonical version identifier. It is intended to provide a single source of truth for versioning, so that the same content carries one unambiguous version across releases, platforms, and channels.

In practice, singleversion can apply to software packages, container images, documentation, APIs, and other deliverables. The idea is to avoid publishing the same artifact under multiple, conflicting version numbers. Instead, a version string is incremented according to a policy (for example semantic versioning or calendar versioning), and related information such as release notes, checksums, and provenance is tied to that single version.

Applications of singleversion often occur in release pipelines where a singleartifact is published across all platforms or variants, with differences conveyed through metadata or configuration rather than separate version tags. This approach supports reproducible builds and easier traceability: given a version, teams can locate source code, compiled artifacts, tests, and deployment records that pertain to that release.

Benefits of singleversion include simplified dependency management, clearer upgrade paths, and improved auditability. Challenges can arise in ecosystems that require parallel development streams, long-lived support channels, or frequent multi-platform releases, where maintaining a strict single version per artifact may constrain flexibility. Critics may argue that strict singleversion can hinder rapid iteration across variants. See also semantic versioning, reproducible builds, continuous delivery, and release management.