Release & Versioning

Release & Versioning Policy

The Private Comments plugin follows a predictable versioning and release structure to ensure stability and transparency for site administrators.

Semantic Versioning

This project adheres to Semantic Versioning (SemVer). Version numbers are formatted as MAJOR.MINOR.PATCH:

• MAJOR: Incremented for significant changes, architectural shifts, or changes that may require manual intervention or configuration updates.
• MINOR: Incremented for new features or functional enhancements that are backward-compatible.
• PATCH: Incremented for backward-compatible bug fixes, security patches, or minor optimizations.

Release Cycle

Updates are released on an as-needed basis rather than a fixed calendar schedule. The release cycle is driven by:

1. Security Patches: Critical security vulnerabilities are addressed immediately in an out-of-band PATCH release.
2. Maintenance: Bug fixes are batched into periodic updates to maintain stability.
3. Feature Requests: New functionality is introduced in MINOR releases after passing quality assurance testing.

Stable vs. Development Releases

• Stable Releases: Only versions listed on the GitHub Releases page are considered stable and recommended for production environments. Each release includes a pre-packaged .zip file for easy installation.
• Development Branch: The main (or master) branch contains the latest code. While generally functional, it may contain experimental features not yet ready for production use.

How to Check Your Version

You can verify the currently installed version of the plugin through the WordPress Admin Dashboard:

1. Navigate to Plugins > Installed Plugins.
2. Locate Private Comments in the list.
3. The version number is displayed in the description column.

Updating the Plugin

Since this plugin is currently distributed via GitHub, updates must be performed manually to ensure you have the latest security and feature improvements:

1. Download the latest .zip file from the Releases page.
2. In your WordPress Dashboard, go to Plugins > Add New > Upload Plugin.
3. Upload the new version. WordPress will prompt you to "Replace current with uploaded"—select this option to complete the update.

Note: Always perform a site backup before applying MAJOR version updates.