Which version is what?

Software
1

Ok, there’s 3 downloads locations

  1. Nightlies
  2. 8.0 Testing
  3. All Stable releases

So let’s say I have downloaded and installed “kicad-unified-universal-9.0.0-rc1 from the “All Stable Releases” and want to know if any changes, eventual bug fixes, has been made later to this release: in this case, is the latest update in “8.0 Testing” newer than “kicad-unified-universal-9.0.0-rc1” from the All Stable Releases? Or is it better to choose the latast update from the “Nightlies” for this, is the Nightly Build now the continuing saga of the “kicad-unified-universal-9.0.0-rc1”?

2

the letters “rc” mark a version as release candidate. This is not a stable version.

Currently: v8.0.7 == stable. The testing version (v8.0.x.abcde) is always a “are snapshots of the current stable release codebase at a specific time. These contain the most recent changes that will be included in the next bugfix release in the current stable series. For example, if the current stable release is 8.0.0, these builds will contain changes destined for version 8.0.1.” (cited from the download page Windows Downloads | KiCad EDA).

A longer explanation: Nightly Builds and Release Candidates | KiCad EDA

The versions v9.0.0.rcx are release candidates and therefore belonging to the current development branch. Most recent bugfixes for this branch can be found in the nighlies directory: “The nightly development builds are snapshots of the development (master branch) codebase at a specific time. This codebase is under active development, and while we try our best, may contain more bugs than usual. New features added to KiCad can be tested in these builds.” (also cited from the download page: Windows Downloads | KiCad EDA)

1 Like
3

Basically if you need to ask stick with the stable release in the main download page, 8.0.7 at this time.
V9.0.0 rc1 should not really be in the “all stable releases” directory, it most certainly is not stable.

4

Release candidates always go in the Stable directory.

The Stable directory has “preserved” builds. The other directories are automatically cleaned up over time as new nightly and testing builds are made.

As noted in the RC1 announcement thread, to get bug fixes for RC1, install a nightly on top of it.

5

It could do with a warning somewhere that RCs are not stable. We know, but new visitors might not

6

Ok thanks for the explanations.

7

Yeah, I’m not new but I didn’t know that. I always wait for the actual stable release but if I had gone and looked and found a directory with ‘stable releases’ on it I would expect any software in it to be released and stable.
:mouse:

8

I thought so too, that stable means stable :slight_smile: But it’s also good to learn at least one new thing each day.

1 Like