Release types and schedules of OpenWGA are designed to match the needs of both types of users: The ones that always want the most up-to-date version with the hottest features and the the ones that just want to install a software and then have minimum effort with necessary updates.
Base Releases
All releases with a minor version of zero - like 5.0, 6.0 etc. - are Base Releases. These releases are guaranteed to be supported for 3 years, which means that for this time there will be base maintenance releases fixing all occurring bugs. Those maintenance releases are guaranteed not to introduce any new behaviours and therefor to be updatable without any hassle.
A new base release will be released every 2 years. So after the 3 years lifetime of your previous base release there will be a new one, introducing new features, that has already matured as a solid platform. The previous base release will then be marked "end of life".
Feature Releases
All releases with a minor version not equal zero - like 5.1, 5.2, 6.1 etc. - are Feature Releases. They build upon the base release which which they share the same major version and introduce new features to it.
We plan to finish a new feature release generally every 3 months so the pace at which new features are introduced is rather high to let you benefit from our developments as fast as possible.
Occurring bugs will be fixed in feature maintenance releases just as fast as for base releases but only for the most current feature release. So updating because of a bug may make it necessary to update to a new feature release.
Rebasing the Feature Stream
The stream of feature releases for a major version ends once a new base release is finished. This next base release will contain all features that have been implemented on the feature releases since the last base release. Users of the previous base release may now update to gain access to those features while again having 3 years of maintenance support for this release.
Users of feature releases now also may switch to the new base release (which is no larger step than in between feature releases). They now are able to choose again if they wish to stay on the base stream this time or if they continue to use the feature stream.
What you may want to ask
Does the base release have any special quality besides being supported for 3 years?
"No. While on many software projects a new major version implies great changes from previous versions this generally is not the case in OpenWGA, at least not compared to the last feature release.
For Users of the Base Stream however this is the release where they gain many new features - that were already introduced in feature releases before - at once. So for them the new major version really means bigger changes."
Are Feature Releases actually Beta Releases?
"No. Feature releases have the status of a normal, quality tested and fully supported release. Each feature release is to introduce only a rather small set of new features to make it possible for us to ensure the necessary quality at the given pace."
Is it possible to switch from the Base Stream to a Feature Release in case I need a special new feature?
"Yes, it is always possible to switch to the most current feature release. However from this time on you will be on the Feature Stream and updating to a necessary maintenance release may mean to also update to new feature releases. You can switch back to the base stream once a new base release is finished."