CalVer
CalVer (Calendar Versioning) is a versioning scheme that uses calendar dates as the primary component of version numbers, rather than semantic versioning's major.minor.patch format. It's designed for projects where time-based releases are more meaningful than semantic changes, often used for APIs, libraries, and tools that have regular release cycles. This approach helps users understand the recency and compatibility of versions based on release dates.
Developers should use CalVer when their project has frequent, time-based releases where semantic versioning's strict rules don't align with development practices, such as in web APIs, CLI tools, or libraries with backward-compatible updates. It's particularly useful for projects that prioritize transparency about release dates over indicating breaking changes, making it easier for users to track updates and plan upgrades based on calendar schedules rather than version semantics.