what determines software version numbers

When software developers make their software public and upgrades follow the version numbers are usually something like 1.4.210 and then the next release will be 1.4.375 etc. What do the companies use to determine the version numbers?

Usually it's just a numeric incrementation based on Major and Minor revisions and builds.

You have Major and Minor revisions....

Example:
1.2.431

1 = Major Version
2 = Minor Version
431 = Build Version

Anytime a major revision or enhancement is added to the application, the Major version number would increment.

Anytime a minor revision is added the Minor version number would increment.

The build version is usually just an auto-incrementing number that is created everytime an application is recompiled.

very cool. thanks a million. one less mystery in my world.

what is the naming system for build versions?

Not sure what you mean by "naming system"...

i used the wrong words. how do companies decide on the build version they're going to assign?

It depends on the company... some count every compile, others count only the beta's.

Keep in mind the numbering is convention only. Some developers may skew the numbers to their advantage... an apparant minor change could be a revision to cover a significant vulnerability, but it's labelled as a minor upgrade to prevent public panic because an exploit had been found.

Others will issue their software under a new major revision number as a way to increase the cost to the consumer or otherwise distinguish it for marketing reasons.

Microsoft did something like that when they issued Windows 3.1-- there were no versions 1 or 2, they went straight to 3 because it gave the illusion that it was an established, stable program.

gotcha. thanks.

Memnoch and Dngrsone, very informative answers!!
thanx for that knowledge!!

I live to serve.

That's interesting. I always wondered the meaning behind those numbers.