FreeBSD Version Release numbers

[Craig Reyenga]

I was just wondering what people think of changing the FreeBSD release
numbering system. Here is my idea:

-FreeBSD 4.X is stable right now.
-FreeBSD 5.0,5.1(maybe 5.2) are not-so-stable.
-FreeBSD 5.3 is supposed to be.

Perhaps all odd major numbers should be considered development versions. 5.3
would instead be called 6.0, to signify that it is ready for general use by
everyone. HEAD would change to 7.0-CURRENT, and the process would repeat,
with 7.0-RELEASE thru 7.N-RELEASE (with "N" being the last development
version) until the tree is then ready for 8.0, which would be of course
marked "stable."

I think it is a good idea because I have seen a lot of confusion as to which
release people should be installing. Yes, they could RTveryFineM, but some
people just don't and I feel a numbering system such as the one above would
ease the headache a little.

Just my $0.02, maybe worth $0.00 in this case.


-Craig

(Please note that I am merely thinking out loud, feel free not to insult.)