Announce Semantic Versioning scheme

en/news/_posts/2013-12-17-semantic-versioning-after-2-1-0.md

@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+---
+layout: news_post
+title: "Semantic Versioning after Ruby 2.1.0"
+author: "zzak"
+translator:
+date: 2013-12-17 17:51:01 UTC
+lang: en
+---
+
+We've decided to move to a [Semantic Versioning](http://semver.org/)-type
+policy after the release of Ruby 2.1.0.
+
+In order to provide a more well defined and properly utilized versioning scheme
+for Ruby, we've decided to gradually switch to the following policy.
+
+## Policy Changes
+
+This policy is based off a proposal by ruby-lang.org system administrator
+Hiroshi Shibata ([@hsbt](https://twitter.com/hsbt)).
+
+### Version Schema
+
+* `MAJOR`: increased when incompatible change which can't be released in MINOR
+  * Reserved for special events
+* `MINOR`: increased every christmas, may be API incompatible
+* `TEENY`: security or bug fix which maintains API compatibility
+  * May be increased more than 10 (such as `2.1.11`), and will be released every 2-3 months.
+* `PATCH`: number of commits since last `MINOR` release (will be reset at 0 when releasing `MINOR`)
+
+### Branching Schema
+
+We will maintain the following branches:
+
+* trunk
+* `ruby_{MAJOR}_{MINOR}`
+
+The `ruby_{MAJOR}_{MINOR}` branch will be maintained across `TEENY` releases.
+We will use tags for each release.
+
+### API Compatibility
+
+The following traits can be marked as an incompatible change, requiring an
+increase in the `MINOR` version:
+
+* Removal of C-level api features
+* Backwards incompatible changes or additions
+
+### ABI Compatibility
+
+ABI will comply with the following scheme: `{MAJOR}.{MINOR}.0`
+
+We will give our best effort to keep ABI compatibility within the same `MINOR`
+level releases, so `TINY` will be fixed at 0.
+
+## References
+
+To read up more on this proposal please see the following links:
+
+* [Introducing a semantic versioning scheme and branching policy](http://bugs.ruby-lang.org/issues/8835)
+* [Accepted proposal in English](https://gist.github.com/sorah/7803201)
+* [Accepted proposal in Japanese](https://gist.github.com/hsbt/7719305)
+
+## Thank you!
+
+I'd like to personally thank everyone who contributed to this discussion. Each
+step we take is closer to a more stable and effective Ruby.
+