# Versions Novel uses a versioning scheme that clearly communicates the development cycle and stability of the software. The format follows `YYYY.M.P`, where `YYYY` represents the release year, `M` denotes the major version number for significant updates or milestone features within that year, and `P` indicates patches or smaller incremental updates to address issues or refine features. ## Major Releases **Major releases**, such as `2024.1.0`, introduce substantial changes, enhancements, or entirely new features. These updates are planned and released a few times annually, depending on the roadmap and development progress. The middle segment increment signals the introduction of significant improvements, ensuring users can anticipate and distinguish major updates. ## Patch Versions **Patch versions** increment the last segment (e.g., `2024.1.1`) and are typically released for bug fixes, stability improvements, or minor enhancements. These updates are rolled out as needed to maintain the software's reliability and performance, ensuring that critical issues are resolved promptly without waiting for the next major version. --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://docs.novel.dev/versions.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.