runtime(doc): Add a Development policy
Commit:
https://github.com/vim/vim/commit/6d8307fc2fe2c4fdf2fcd7c8113b5c41217851f9
Author: Christian Brabandt <[email protected]>
Date: Thu Sep 4 21:56:08 2025 +0200
runtime(doc): Add a Development policy
closes: https://github.com/vim/vim/issues/18197
Signed-off-by: Christian Brabandt <[email protected]>
diff --git a/runtime/doc/develop.txt b/runtime/doc/develop.txt
index 2d486b6ba..50d9b04f6 100644
--- a/runtime/doc/develop.txt
+++ b/runtime/doc/develop.txt
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-*develop.txt* For Vim version 9.1. Last change: 2025 Sep 01
+*develop.txt* For Vim version 9.1. Last change: 2025 Sep 04
VIM REFERENCE MANUAL by Bram Moolenaar
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ Vim.
2. Design decisions |design-decisions|
3. Assumptions |design-assumptions|
4. Coding style |coding-style|
+5. Policy |design-policy|
See the file README.txt in the "src" directory for an overview of the source
code.
@@ -728,4 +729,35 @@ OK: do
while (cond);
+==============================================================================
+5. Policy *design-policy* *new-features* *deprecated-features*
+
+The time between either a new minor (e.g. 9.2.0) or major (e.g. 10.0) version
+is released is called a development cycle. Within the development cycle each
+single change to the C core will receive a new increased human-readable patch
+number in order to reference each specific patch release. A typical
+development release cycle may last several years and accumulate about 1500 -
+2500 patch numbers.
+
+Before a release is made, a stability period will be announced. During this
+time, only clear bug fixes, security fixes, documentation changes, translation
+updates and runtime file updates will be accepted (provided they do not
+introduce backwards-incompatible changes), concentrating on polishing up the
+upcoming release.
+
+New features are accepted only within a development cycle, but not within the
+stability period. During the cycle, new features may be developed and are
+allowed to change, but they must be settled before the cycle closes.
+
+Once a minor release has been made, features included in that release must not
+receive any backwards-incompatible changes. Later patches are expected to
+preserve compatibility for the C core of Vim. Runtime files are handled a bit
+more flexibly to give runtime files maintainers a chance to change old
+behaviour.
+
+Within a development cycle, features may be marked as deprecated. Deprecated
+features can be disabled at compile time through an appropriate switch. After
+a new release, deprecated features may be removed completely in a following
+cycle.
+
vim:tw=78:ts=8:noet:ft=help:norl:
diff --git a/runtime/doc/tags b/runtime/doc/tags
index 3706ffc3a..7f73f0558 100644
--- a/runtime/doc/tags
+++ b/runtime/doc/tags
@@ -6969,6 +6969,7 @@ delete-menus gui.txt /*delete-menus*
deletebufline() builtin.txt /*deletebufline()*
deleting change.txt /*deleting*
demoserver.py channel.txt /*demoserver.py*
+deprecated-features develop.txt /*deprecated-features*
design-assumptions develop.txt /*design-assumptions*
design-compatible develop.txt /*design-compatible*
design-decisions develop.txt /*design-decisions*
@@ -6979,6 +6980,7 @@ design-improved develop.txt /*design-improved*
design-maintain develop.txt /*design-maintain*
design-multi-platform develop.txt /*design-multi-platform*
design-not develop.txt /*design-not*
+design-policy develop.txt /*design-policy*
design-speed-size develop.txt /*design-speed-size*
desktop.vim syntax.txt /*desktop.vim*
develop-spell develop.txt /*develop-spell*
@@ -9367,6 +9369,7 @@ new-diff-mode version6.txt /*new-diff-mode*
new-encryption version5.txt /*new-encryption*
new-evim version6.txt /*new-evim*
new-ex-commands-5.2 version5.txt /*new-ex-commands-5.2*
+new-features develop.txt /*new-features*
new-file-browser version6.txt /*new-file-browser*
new-file-writing version6.txt /*new-file-writing*
new-filetype filetype.txt /*new-filetype*
diff --git a/runtime/doc/vi_diff.txt b/runtime/doc/vi_diff.txt
index 9e1cb3b17..1c5d7245b 100644
--- a/runtime/doc/vi_diff.txt
+++ b/runtime/doc/vi_diff.txt
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-*vi_diff.txt* For Vim version 9.1. Last change: 2025 Sep 02
+*vi_diff.txt* For Vim version 9.1. Last change: 2025 Sep 04
VIM REFERENCE MANUAL by Bram Moolenaar
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