Why doesn't vBulletin use 3.2 instead then?

[Erwin]

You haven't been told the story of Kier Plagueis have you?

Told of this story I haven't, mmmm...

[cbiweb]

Versioning is done a scale that is determined by how many changes there are to the software. For instance (and these example are just rough examples of how things generally work), a minor update to version 1.0 could be 1.0.1. A bug fix release with a new feature might move up to 1.1.0. Any bug fixes and stuff after that might be known as 1.1.2, 1.1.3, 1.1.4, etc. But keep in mind that the level of bug fixes or new features can make the version number skip one or more. 1.1.0 can easily jump to 1.1.3 or something; even to 1.2.

It all depends on what's been done to the software. Add enough new features and fix enough bugs or other issues, and the version number can reasonably skip right over many smaller numbers. And I think Jelsoft has done just that with 3.5. To go from 3.0.7 to 3.1 just seems like too small a step to reflect the leap in evolution of the software. 3.5 is appropriate, IMO.

[chaeberle]

Stephen King fan huh?

Two points to Wayne. Used to be a fan anyway - read all his stuff up to around Misery ... then just kinda lost interest in the genre.

I think "Needful Things" and more so "Tommyknockers" killed my interest in King for the most part.

[Mainer82]

I think instead of using an arbitrary version numbering scheme which gives the impression of there being some logical progression to the version numbers, you should use an arbitrary version naming scheme based on travelling along the I-95 corridor from Florida to Maine.

You could start in Maine at the northern most exit, use it's name as your next version, like:
vBulletin - Houston, ME edition.
And then work your way down the highway using subsequent notable towns. To avoid progressing TOO slowly, you should skip any exit not connected with a town of 10,000 people or more within a 50 square mile area. So then you'ld go from:
vB - Houston ME
to
vB - Bangor
and then onto
vB - Augusta

for kicks you could include the fictional Maine towns of Castle Rock and Derry (2 points if you identify the context of the towns).

That would clear out all the confusion over versions, no problem.

I mean, look at "Whidbey" and "Yukon". Clear as mud right?

Hey, I like that idea since I'm from Maine!

[Wayne Luke]

for kicks you could include the fictional Maine towns of Castle Rock and Derry (2 points if you identify the context of the towns).

Stephen King fan huh?

[quincywisdom]

Not for the many that quickly become confused.

I can just imagine the chaos on these forums...



Please note that the quote above does not represent my own thoughts, only what I predict we will see a lot of on these forums. It's just a small example.

Also, yes Floris, I had already read that portion. I was criticizing it, too. I don't see why, even with so many new features, etc., that they would skip several versions. The only other time I have actually see this happen with a product was when Winamp moved from v3 to v5 - mostly because v3 was complete garbage, so their whole marketing scheme was to say that v5 included 'the best of both worlds - v2 and v3! Wow!'.

oh wait...no one cares.

[chaeberle]

I think instead of using an arbitrary version numbering scheme which gives the impression of there being some logical progression to the version numbers, you should use an arbitrary version naming scheme based on travelling along the I-95 corridor from Florida to Maine.

You could start in Maine at the northern most exit, use it's name as your next version, like:
vBulletin - Houston, ME edition.
And then work your way down the highway using subsequent notable towns. To avoid progressing TOO slowly, you should skip any exit not connected with a town of 10,000 people or more within a 50 square mile area. So then you'ld go from:
vB - Houston ME
to
vB - Bangor
and then onto
vB - Augusta

for kicks you could include the fictional Maine towns of Castle Rock and Derry (2 points if you identify the context of the towns).

That would clear out all the confusion over versions, no problem.

I mean, look at "Whidbey" and "Yukon". Clear as mud right?

[Mainer82]

Heh, I love the Star Wars blurbs... you know you're a geek when you get a kick out of Star Wars / vB jokes.

[CMilne]

Not quite a minor version update * 3.1 * and not quite a major version update * 4.0 * it's in the middle, thus 3.5! I'm happy, it sounds WAY cooler than 3.1

[Mike Sullivan]

"Some say that calling the next version 3.5 is... unnatural..."

"How does one get vB3.5... ?"

"... Not from a Jedi..."

You haven't been told the story of Kier Plagueis have you?

[Bad_i_BILL]

it can be called whatever they want to call it i'll still use it

i for one am not version number retentive

AGREED, VERY WELL SAID

[greywolff]

it can be called whatever they want to call it i'll still use it

i for one am not version number retentive

[Erwin]

Your not my moderator, I'll never run the board with you ...... <ensue large light saber battle>

"Some say that calling the next version 3.5 is... unnatural..."

"How does one get vB3.5... ?"

"... Not from a Jedi..."

[Mainer82]

Your not my moderator, I'll never run the board with you ...... <ensue large light saber battle>

Hah, that's good!

[Jerry]

The pros about vB 3.5 is I do believe this makes us a lot closer to vB 4 than vB 3.2 would have . Also it distinguishes a greater gap between the core of 3.0.x and 3.5 - so people can think they are taking a wider leap of faith installing older hacks. After all, doesn't 3.5 sound farther away from 3.0.x than 3.2 or 3.1 ? Plus it makes 3.5 look more revolutionary, but hey, with all the features, IT IS REVOLUTIONARY!

Well it was code refactoring so its evolutionary not exactly revolutionary.

The cons about vB 3.5 is that it is so far away from vB 3.0.x that people would think that they missed a couple of updates. Plus it defies the standard Unix version numbering system.

Well the version checker will take care of that, and for what has happened the numbering fits.

Wibu has an interesting point though. There could be a couple of versions on MacVickers and Kiers computers that we never saw.

That's part of the course of development, lots of unused, tried tested, found a better way etc. Oh and Mike, Freddie and myself are devs too

I believe Jelsoft should do a George Lucas and release some prequel versions - vBulletin 0.0.9 for example. A trilogy of prequels. Imagine the hype and merchandising...

Your not my moderator, I'll never run the board with you ...... <ensue large light saber battle>