Apache NetBeans is released quarterly according to the following schedule.

Date
20202021202220232024
January 15th

Feature freeze for next release.
Delivery and release branches created.
Weekly Release Candidate made available for testing.






February 7th - 15thVoting candidate created and release vote commences.




February 15th - 28th/29thApache NetBeans release.
NetBeans 12.3NetBeans 13
NetBeans 17
April 15th

Feature freeze for next release.
Delivery and release branches created.
Weekly Release Candidate made available for testing.






May 7th - 15thVoting candidate created and release vote commences.




May 15th - 31stApache NetBeans release.NetBeans 12.0NetBeans 12.4NetBeans 14
NetBeans 18
July 15th

Feature freeze for next release.
Delivery and release branches created.
Weekly Release Candidate made available for testing.






August 7th - 15thVoting candidate created and release vote commences.




August 15th - 31stApache NetBeans release.NetBeans 12.1NetBeans 12.5
NetBeans 15
NetBeans 19NetBeans 23
October 15th

Feature freeze for next release.
Delivery and release branches created.
Weekly Release Candidate made available for testing.






November 7th - 15thVoting candidate created and release vote commences.




November 15th - 30thApache NetBeans release.NetBeans 12.2 NetBeans 12.6NetBeans 16
NetBeans 20NetBeans 24

Key points

  • Four releases a year on known dates (within reason, weekends, blockers, etc.).
  • Each release has a fixed and well known feature-freeze date. Features may be targeted for releases, but no promises are made of features being included unless they have been merged to master by that date.
  • Everything merged to master at all times prior to feature freeze is intended and ready to be included in the next scheduled release.  Keep master releasable!
  • Merging earlier rather than later in the merge window is to be encouraged!
  • After the feature freeze date, fixes intended for the release should be merged to delivery until the next feature window opens. The delivery branch will be merged to both master and release branches on a weekly schedule.
  • All fixes merged to delivery after the feature-freeze date should be assessed and reviewed in accordance with the Bug Priority Guidelines

History

In 2019 there was a decision to move towards a time-based, quarterly release schedule for Apache NetBeans releases.  This started from Apache NetBeans 11.1, and retrospectively designated Apache NetBeans 11.0 as an LTS release.

At the end of 2019 the schedule was shifted back by one month, to avoid the end of year period. At the end of 2020, master freezing was replaced by a move to a delivery and release branch mechanism.

In early 2021, a decision was made to review the process and requirements for LTS releases, and in October 2021 a decision was made to concentrate solely on quarterly releases, changing the numbering scheme accordingly. No further LTS release will be made.

Further details, notes, and discussions : Notes and Discussions on the Release Schedule

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