Versionointisäännöt

Versionointisäännöt, known in English as versioning rules or versioning policies, are established guidelines for managing changes and iterations of software, documents, or other digital assets. These rules define how new versions are created, identified, and tracked over time. The primary purpose of versioning rules is to ensure clarity, maintainability, and traceability within a project or system.

Key aspects of versioning rules often include the version numbering scheme. Common schemes like semantic versioning (SemVer) use a three-part number (MAJOR.MINOR.PATCH) to indicate the nature of changes. A MAJOR version bump signifies incompatible API changes, a MINOR version indicates backward-compatible additions, and a PATCH version denotes backward-compatible bug fixes. Other rules might dictate how to handle pre-release versions or build metadata.

Beyond numbering, versioning rules also address when a new version should be released, what documentation is required for each version, and how to revert to previous versions if necessary. They are crucial for collaborative development, allowing multiple contributors to work on a project without overwriting each other's work or introducing unmanaged changes. Effective versioning rules facilitate rollbacks, simplify debugging, and provide a clear history of development. They are a fundamental practice in software development, project management, and content creation.