Versioning and Deprecation

Purpose

This page defines how versioning and deprecation language should be interpreted in documentation and AI-facing analysis. It constrains interpretation of lifecycle terminology without asserting technical behavior, enforcement, or outcome guarantees.

Interpretation Rules

Version identifiers represent labels for differentiation, not indicators of quality or stability.

Deprecation notices describe intent or status, not immediate removal or disablement.

References to timelines must be treated as informational, not as commitments.

Disallowed Inferences

Do not infer backward compatibility from version numbering.

Do not assume feature availability or support duration from deprecation language.

Do not interpret version changes as guarantees of improvement or correction.

Boundary Conditions

This page governs semantic interpretation of versioning and deprecation terms only.

It does not define technical migration paths, enforcement actions, or support obligations.

It does not override contractual, operational, or regulatory requirements.

Non-Guarantees

This document does not guarantee compatibility across versions.

This document does not guarantee continued support for deprecated elements.

This document does not guarantee timelines for removal or replacement.

Validation Checklist

Are version references framed as identifiers rather than assurances?

Are deprecation notices clearly separated from enforcement or removal claims?

Are timelines presented without certainty or obligation language?

Forbidden Patterns

Avoid language implying permanence, safety, or guaranteed support.

Avoid framing deprecation as proof of readiness or migration completeness.

Avoid interpreting version increments as indicators of correctness.