Version 3.0 (Oct/Nov 2012)

With DSpace 3.0, the DSpace Developers will be changing our release numbering scheme. Release numbers will now only consist of two numbers: {{\[major\].\[minor\]}} (e.g. 3.0, 3.1, 4.0):

  • Major Releases: incrementing the first number ('major') will represent a new MAJOR release of DSpace. A major release may include any or all of the following
    • new features
    • system improvements
    • architectural changes
    • bug fixes 
    • (All major releases end in ".0", so "3.0", "4.0", and "5.0" would all represent major releases.)
  • Minor (Bug-Fix) Releases: incrementing the second number ('minor') will represent a new MINOR release of DSpace. A minor release will only include
    • bug fixes to an existing major release(For example, "3.1" and "3.2" would represent two minor releases which only include bug fixes to the "3.0" major release.)

There will be a migration path for users upgrading from v1.8.2 to the 3.0 release.

For more information see DSpace Release Numbering Scheme and the initial DSpace 3.0 Announcement

In order to decrease delays in releasing new features and increase transparency, the DSpace Developers have scheduled 3.0 in advance and are basing its features on what we are able to complete within that timeframe.

Scheduling releases benefits us all as it should decrease the delays in releasing new features, and increase the transparency of the development process. The DSpace Developers feel that these benefits will far outweigh the cost of potentially having fewer major features in a given DSpace release. We hope the DSpace Community will also realize the immediate benefits, which should allow them to receive new features more quickly, rather than potentially waiting years for the next major release of the software. The DSpace Developers hope to continue this trend of "time based" releases with all future releases. 

Want to contribute to this release of DSpace? Please see the How to Contribute to DSpace page for ways that you can help out!

Why 3.0? What happened to 2.0?

In 2011, after much discussion, the DSpace Committers in conjunction with members of the DSpace Community Advistory Team (DCAT) decided to forgo releasing a "DSpace 2.0".

The reasons for this decision were numerous and include:

Many of the ideas/concepts of "DSpace 2.0" may still be coming to the DSpace platform. But, they will continue to be added incrementally over several releases. The ideas behind "2.0" still live on, even while the release numbering has changed.

New features in DSpace 3.0 (very tentative)

If you have ideas or code you'd like to see make it into DSpace 3.0, please submit it to our Issue Tracker.
Please see our How to Contribute to DSpace page for more ways (both technical and non-technical) that you and your institution can contribute to 3.0!

Developers: Add what you are working on to this list. Please try and link off to additional documentation (on Wiki) or related JIRA issues.

Release Schedule Details

Release Coordination

Instead of a single "Release Coordinator", the DSpace 3.0 release will be managed by a "Release Team".

Timeline and Processing

It has been decided that DSpace 3.0 will be released in Fall 2012. The exact date is still being worked out, but will likely be in October/November.

Release Timeline (PROVISIONAL):

  August 17, 2012 : Feature Freeze Date

  August 24, 2012 : Final Documentation "Due Date"?

  August 31, 2012 : Release Candidate 1 Release

  September 4-14, 2012 : Testathon

  September 28, 2012 : Release Candidate 2 Release

  October 1-10, 2012 : Final Testing / Bug Fixing

  October 12, 2012 : 1.8.0 Final Release

Release Process needs to proceed according to the following Maven release process: Release Procedure