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Clarify development cycle #1681

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hugovk merged 6 commits into from
Dec 21, 2025
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Clarify development cycle #1681

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1e39761
It's always Python 3.x
hugovk Nov 5, 2025
2b5060b
a RC -> an RC
hugovk Nov 5, 2025
270131a
After a final is published in October, the dev cycle for the next min…
hugovk Nov 5, 2025
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Merge branch 'main' into clarify-dev-cycle
AA-Turner Dec 21, 2025
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Merge branch 'main' into clarify-dev-cycle
AA-Turner Dec 21, 2025
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"There are ... branches"
hugovk Dec 21, 2025
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9 changes: 4 additions & 5 deletions developer-workflow/development-cycle.rst
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Expand Up @@ -68,8 +68,8 @@ Maintenance branches
A branch for a previous feature release, currently being maintained for bug
fixes, or for the next feature release in its
:ref:`beta <beta>` or :ref:`release candidate <rc>` stages.
There is usually either one or two maintenance branches at any given time for
Python 3.x. After the final release of a new minor version (3.x.0), releases
There is usually either one or two maintenance branches at any given time.
After the final release of a new minor version (3.x.0), releases
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@hugovk hugovk Nov 5, 2025

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It's always Python 3.x, we don't care about 2.x any more.

If there's a 4.x, and things change, we'll update it then.

produced from a maintenance branch are called **bugfix** or **maintenance**
releases; the terms are used interchangeably. These releases have a
**micro version** number greater than zero.
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ severe enough (for example, crashes) that they deserve fixing before the final r
All other issues should be deferred to the next development cycle, since
stability is the strongest concern at this point.

While the goal is to have no code changes between a RC and a final release,
While the goal is to have no code changes between an RC and a final release,
there may be a need for final documentation or test fixes. Any such proposed
changes should be discussed first with the release manager.

Expand All @@ -204,8 +204,7 @@ Final
^^^^^

When a final release is being cut, only the release manager (RM) can make
changes to the branch. After the final release is published, the full
:ref:`development cycle <stages>` starts again for the next minor version.
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@hugovk hugovk Nov 5, 2025

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Incorrect.

After the final release is published in October, the dev cycle for the next one had already started back in May.

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@AA-Turner AA-Turner Dec 20, 2025

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Maybe add that this period starts after RC1? Or at least it has for the last couple of releases.

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@hugovk hugovk Dec 21, 2025

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The new dev cycle begins after beta 1, when main forks to a 3.x branch.

I think let's keep these explanations simpler, about the current cycle, rather than matching them up to previous/next cycles.

changes to the branch.


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