`releases.json` Breaking Change

[richlander]

This issue is a locked mirror of https://github.com/dotnet/core/issues/7522. See that issue for discussion.

releases.json Breaking Change

releases.json is a family of files (and schema) that the .NET Team publishes to enable programatic access to the catalog of .NET releases.

We are making some targeted changes to these files, primarily to reduce user confusion, in response to consistent and broad feedback.

We are making three primary changes, ordered from most to least breaking:

• Replace the current value with sts, in the support-phase property.
• Document the allowable values for support-phase. This will include go-live, in addition to sts.
• Add a new release-type property, with immutable values of lts or sts, as appropriate.

Timing

The change will be made in two phases:

• The release-type property, and .NET 7 EOL date, will be added on July 13th via https://github.com/dotnet/core/pull/7499.
• The support-phase property for .NET 7 will transition from preview to go-live on September 13th. Previously, this would have been rc.
• The support-phase property for .NET 7 will transition from go-live to sts on November 8th. Previously, this would have been current.

Context

"Current" releases will now be referred to as "Short-term Support (STS)" releases, in obvious contrast to "Long-term Support (LTS)" releases. The duration of the support periods and related policies are not changing.

The "Current" term will no longer be used.

See .NET Release Labels for more information.