This chapter provides descriptions of what features have been added or bugs fixed for each version of Condor. The first section describes the Condor version numbering scheme, what the numbers mean, and what the different release series are. The rest of the sections each describe a specific release series, and all the Condor versions found in that series.
Starting with version 6.0.1, Condor adopted a new, hopefully easy to understand version numbering scheme. It reflects the fact that Condor is both a production system and a research project. The numbering scheme was primarily taken from the Linux kernel's version numbering, so if you are familiar with that, it should seem quite natural.
There will usually be two Condor versions available at any given time, the stable version, and the development version. Gone are the days of ``patch level 3'', ``beta2'', or any other random words in the version string. All versions of Condor now have exactly three numbers, separated by ``.''
People expecting the stable, production Condor system should download the stable version, denoted with an even number in the second digit of the version string. Most people are encouraged to use this version. We will only offer our paid support for versions of Condor from the stable release series.
On the stable series, new minor version releases will only be made for bug fixes and to support new platforms. No new features will be added to the stable series. People are encouraged to install new stable versions of Condor when they appear, since they probably fix bugs you care about. Hopefully, there will not be many minor version releases for any given stable series.
Only people who are interested in the latest research, new features that haven't been fully tested, etc, should download the development version, denoted with an odd number in the second digit of the version string. We will make a best effort to ensure that the development series will work, but we make no guarantees.
On the development series, new minor version releases will probably happen frequently. People should not feel compelled to install new minor versions unless they know they want features or bug fixes from the newer development version.
Most sites will probably never want to install a development version of Condor for any reason. Only if you know what you are doing (and like pain), or were explicitly instructed to do so by someone on the Condor Team, should you install a development version at your site.
After the feature set of the development series is satisfactory to the Condor Team, we will put a code freeze in place, and from that point forward, only bug fixes will be made to that development series. When we have fully tested this version, we will release a new stable series, resetting the minor version number, and start work on a new development release from there.