diff -r 91e7ec70a38e -r c55780172a46 devel-versioning.rst --- a/devel-versioning.rst Mon Nov 28 01:32:11 2011 +0200 +++ b/devel-versioning.rst Mon Nov 28 01:32:24 2011 +0200 @@ -346,6 +346,23 @@ Forms of compatibility. ======================= +Backward/forward compatibility. +------------------------------- + +Backward compatibility for library, file format, protocol means that new version +of program can work with old library, file format, protocol. + +Forward compatibility for library, file format, protocol means that old version +of program can work with new library, file format, protocol but without using +any benefits from new versions and more essentially without posibility damage +any user data. + +Example of backward compatibility: adding to graphic library new image format +for reading/saving. + +Example of forward compatibility: old browser ignore any new (unknown) HTML +tags. + Source/binary compatibility. ----------------------------