View Source

Apache NetBeans is released quarterly according to the following schedule, see the list of downloads here.

Date		2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025	2026
January 15th	Feature freeze for next release. Delivery and release branches created. Weekly Release Candidate made available for testing.
February 7th - 15th	Voting candidate created and release vote commences.
February 15th - 28th/29th	Apache NetBeans release.		NetBeans 12.3	NetBeans 13	NetBeans 17	NetBeans 21	NetBeans 25	NetBeans 29
April 15th	Feature freeze for next release. Delivery and release branches created. Weekly Release Candidate made available for testing.
May 7th - 15th	Voting candidate created and release vote commences.
May 15th - 31st	Apache NetBeans release.	NetBeans 12.0	NetBeans 12.4	NetBeans 14	NetBeans 18	NetBeans 22	NetBeans 26	NetBeans 30
July 15th	Feature freeze for next release. Delivery and release branches created. Weekly Release Candidate made available for testing.
August 7th - 15th	Voting candidate created and release vote commences.
August 15th - 31st	Apache NetBeans release.	NetBeans 12.1	NetBeans 12.5	NetBeans 15	NetBeans 19	NetBeans 23	NetBeans 27	NetBeans 31
October 15th	Feature freeze for next release. Delivery and release branches created. Weekly Release Candidate made available for testing.
November 7th - 15th	Voting candidate created and release vote commences.
November 15th - 30th	Apache NetBeans release.	NetBeans 12.2	NetBeans 12.6	NetBeans 16	NetBeans 20	NetBeans 24	NetBeans 28	NetBeans 32

Key points

Four releases a year on known dates (within reason, weekends, blockers, etc.).
Each release has a fixed and well known feature-freeze date. Features may be targeted for releases, but no promises are made of features being included unless they have been merged to master by that date.
Everything merged to master at all times prior to feature freeze is intended and ready to be included in the next scheduled release. Keep master releasable!
Merging earlier rather than later in the merge window is to be encouraged!
After the feature freeze date, fixes intended for the release should be merged to delivery until the next feature window opens. The delivery branch will be merged to both master and release branches on a weekly schedule.
All fixes merged to delivery after the feature-freeze date should be assessed and reviewed in accordance with the Bug Priority Guidelines

History

In 2019 there was a decision to move towards a time-based, quarterly release schedule for Apache NetBeans releases. This started from Apache NetBeans 11.1, and retrospectively designated Apache NetBeans 11.0 as an LTS release.

At the end of 2019 the schedule was shifted back by one month, to avoid the end of year period. At the end of 2020, master freezing was replaced by a move to a delivery and release branch mechanism.

In early 2021, a decision was made to review the process and requirements for LTS releases, and in October 2021 a decision was made to concentrate solely on quarterly releases, changing the numbering scheme accordingly. No further LTS release will be made.

Further details, notes, and discussions : Notes and Discussions on the Release Schedule