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Following several discussions, the Thunderbird drivers have decided
to adopt the <a
href="http://mozilla.github.com/process-releases/draft/development_specifics/#versioning">same
version numbering scheme that Firefox has adopted</a> following
the transition to the rapid release process. This also means that
Thundebird will match its version numbers with the gecko version
numbers.<br>
<br>
Whilst we could have kept the same numbering system, or adopted a
different one, we felt that matching Firefox would make it clearer
for developers as to which version of Thunderbird was based on which
gecko/Firefox version.<br>
<br>
We'll also be de-emphasising the version numbers in our releases, it
is much more important that users keep up to date with the latest
security and stability fixes, and of course latest improvements,
than being concerned that a jump from one number to the next is a
big jump.<br>
<br>
Therefore, we will be renumbering the current work in progress
releases as follows:<br>
<ul>
<li>Thunderbird 3.3 (aka Miramar) will become Thunderbird 5.0
(based on gecko 5.0).<br>
</li>
<li>The builds which will be produced from comm-aurora (where we
merged to last Tuesday), will become Thunderbird 6.0.</li>
<li>The builds from comm-central which are currently numbered
3.4a1pre will become Thunderbird 7.0.</li>
</ul>
Mark<br>
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