Understanding the GeoServer release cycle

In this chapter, we have installed GeoServer and are now ready to use it. However, before starting to explore its features and building maps, we need to consider the release cycle. As any successful software, GeoServer is frequently upgraded, new releases add new features and fix bugs.

GeoServer releases on a 6-month cycle, providing a short turnaround time for new features.

Each GeoServer release is supported with bug fixes for a year, with releases made approximately every 2 months. This allows for an overlap between supported releases, allowing organizations a chance to migrate without undue pressure.

To avoid your server using an old and no longer supported the release of GeoServer, you need to upgrade it frequently, and this is the topic of the next paragraph. The following figure shows the periods of its various releases: