swift Version Numbering
swift version numbers consist of three numeric segments. A fourth segment denotes the update patch number.
Some examples:
- 0.9.5 is a version
- 0.9.5.65 is update 65 for version 0.9.5
- update 128 on top of 0.9.5.65 will make it 0.9.5.128
- 0.9.5 to 0.9.6 is a version upgrade, not just an update
Release channels
swift is currently released as two different channels: Alpha and Beta
- Alpha releases are those that have recently passed the first phase of internal testing.
- Early adopters can use an Alpha release, helping us by reporting any bugs that we may have missed.
- As bugs are found and fixed, updates may be released, also as Alpha.
- Beta releases have passed this phase of Alpha testing and all known bugs are fixed.
- Therefore, use the Alpha if you want the latest features. Wait for the Beta if you want minimum bugs.
- Additional Beta updates may be released if any bugs are discovered later.
- After a Beta release, the developers begin work on the next version, which will become the next Alpha when it is ready.
For example: