> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.lerian.studio/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Version numbering explained

> Understand Lerian's modified semantic versioning — major, minor, patch, and pre-release tags — so you can anticipate the impact of each update.

The versioning scheme describes how we assign and increment version numbers. It clarifies the meaning of major, minor, and patch releases, how we handle breaking changes, and the role of pre-release tags.

By following this structure, you can anticipate the impact of each update and plan migrations confidently.

## Semantic versioning

***

We follow a **modified semantic versioning** scheme in the format **X.Y.Z \[-designation]**, where:

| Version type          | Increment frequency                                                                             | Characteristics                                                                                           | Example         |
| --------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------- |
| **X (Major Version)** | Evaluated every two development cycles, but **only released if there are significant changes**. | **May introduce breaking changes**.  <br /><br />Requires explicit upgrade steps.                         | *1.0.0 → 2.0.0* |
| **Y (Minor Version)** | Every development cycle                                                                         | **Maintains backward compatibility**.  <br /><br /> Introduces new features and functionality.            | *1.0.0 → 1.1.0* |
| **Z (Patch Version)** | As needed, outside the regular cycle                                                            | **For hotfixes, security patches, and critical updates**.  <br /><br /> Maintains backward compatibility. | *1.1.0 → 1.1.1* |