1.6 Major, minor and Patch release versioning in Pega
Major version
Major software updates deliver substantial value in terms of performance, reliability, capability, and security. They include changes that are not backward compatible and require some downtime to adopt.
Example: Pega Platform 7 to Pega Platform 8
Minor version
Minor software updates include new features, enhancements, and fixes to provide enhanced value. You can apply them with near-zero downtime effective Pega Platform 8.4.2.
Example: Pega Platform 8.4 to Pega Platform 8.6
Patch release
Patches contain fixes that address application user-reported issues, but do not contain any new features or feature enhancements. Application user refers to client reported bugs. Bugs are prioritized, and internally reported bugs are included only on a case-by-case basis. Patches are backward compatible and limited in scope.