Tips on Software Versioning

I m going to break the rules of journalistic writing and start with this: 1.0, 1.0.3, 2.3.4, 4.5, 5.0, 5.0.8 and so on and so forth. Yes, you guessed it, I m talking about software versioning and what it can do for you.
When the slightest modification is made to a program, a new version appears, as software versioning. First, let s see what the most common schemes of software versioning are: The most common is a scheme in which different major releases of the software receive a numerical identifier, which is usually expressed as three numbers, separated by periods. The most often used structure for numeric schemes is or . The first commercially released version of a software product has the version 1.0, with numbers below 1 being alpha or beta versions, for testing purposes, internal use or that are not stable enough to commercially release. Generally, the major number is changed when significant changes occur, the minor number when only minor features are modified and the revision number when minor bugs are fixed. Date versioning scheme, which uses the year followed by the month and the day of the release. Year of release, a versioning scheme that identifies the versions by year. Alphanumeric codes, like Macromedia Flash MX or Adobe Photoshop CS2. Roman numerals, like Apple s Mac OS X, representing version 10. Apple versioning scheme is based on a structure which specifies a one or two digit major version, a one-digit minor version, a one-digit revision version, a stage indicator and a one-byte pre-release version. Some producers use different schemes for different releases of their software, like Microsoft, which started by using the numeric versioning scheme, then by years and alphanumeric codes. All schemes aside, software versioning must take into account the final destination of a software product: selling it to consumers. To do that, it must not get the customers confused with long segments of numbers or letters. The version should be easily identifiable, allowing customers to easily realize which version is the latest one, by comparing it with other copies of the software product.
Usually independent software developers use version 1.0 as a milestone, indicating the program is complete, having all major features and is considered reliable enough for being release.
Versions are also used to describe the program s history. When a new version has a different architecture, sometimes being incompatible with previous releases, another version may be released to be compatible with both previous versions (for example, when Winamp released version 5, to be compatible with versions 2 and 3).
There are also the so called "marketing" version numbers. That is significantly changing version numbers with no apparent reason, other than to better market it or keep up with competitors. One example is when Microsoft Access jumped from version 2.0 to version 7.0, just to match the version number of Microsoft Word.



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"Leaders" Versus "Cheerleaders"

Everyone wants to describe themselves as a leader. Everyday, new books on leadership come out on the market. Leaders are seen everywhere business, society, and, of course, politics. Yet, in our culture where greatness is often measured by noise rather than accomplishment, I thought it would be helpful to define the factors that differentiate the true leader from the notorious cheerleader.

* Cheerleaders are thermometers, while true leaders are thermostats. Where thermometers measure the weather, thermostats change it. This is the perfect analogy in my opinion. While thermometers stick their fingers in the wind to see what direction the wind (or crowd) is going, the true leader determines his or her course and follows it. They do that which they believe is best for everyone involved. Often true leaders have to change opinion before they can be recognized as a leader. They are willing to do this in order to make a true difference.

* Cheerleaders are often victims, while true leaders are always owners. Cheerleaders will often blame anyone or thing other than themselves if something goes wrong under their leadership. With true leaders, in the words of Harry Truman, the buck stops here. True leaders want responsibility for the decisions they make, apologize for their mistakes, and will look to share honor with others when things go well.

* Cheerleaders focus on themselves, while leaders focus on the cause. There is nothing more dangerous than getting between a cheerleader and a microphone, TV camera, or photo op. Such people are interested in themselves and very little else. True leaders are concerned about the cause or the project. "Who" gets the credit is not nearly as important as the project getting done! This is one of the biggest differences between cheerleaders and true leaders.

So how does one become a true leader? You become goal oriented, know what you are going to do before you set out to do it. You become a person of principal, so you are not tossed flippantly from project to project. You build those around as much you do yourself, creating a strong and integrated network of people working on the same cause and all on the same page. These are the steps one takes to become a true leader and to avoid the temptation of being a mere wannabe.

Kevin J. Price
Principal
HoustonBusiness.com



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