Chapter 3: Understanding Development and Release Cycles

In This Chapter

• Delving into WordPress release cycles
• Exploring betas, release candidates, and final release versions
• Navigating WordPress release archives
• Tracking WordPress development
• Using bleeding-edge builds

If you're planning to dip your toe into the WordPress waters (or you've already dived in and gotten completely wet) the WordPress platform's development cycle is really good to know about and understand because it affects every WordPress user on a regular basis.

WordPress and its features form the foundation of your Web site. WordPress is a low-maintenance way to publish content on the Web and the software is free in terms of cost. However, WordPress isn't 100 percent maintenance free, and part of maintenance is ensuring that your WordPress software is up-to-date to keep your Web site secure and safe.