Bladed Knowledge Centre Downloads Support policy
Overview
Bladed products receive bug fixes according to their "support type":
- Long-term support - Bug fixes provided for at least 2 years from initial release
- Short-term support - Bug fixes only provided until the next major version release (STS or LTS).
Bug fixes for current products will be provided until the final bug fix date given below:
| Product | Support type | Initial release date | Final bug fix date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bladed 4.17 | Dec 2024 | Bladed 4.18 release | In support | |
| Bladed 4.16 | May 2024 | May 2026 | In support | |
| Bladed 4.15 | Nov 2023 | Bladed 4.16 release | Out of support | |
| Bladed 4.14 | May 2023 | Nov 2025 | In support | |
| Bladed 4.13 | Nov 2022 | Bladed 4.14 release | Out of support | |
| Bladed 4.12 | Feb 2022 | Mar 2025 | Out of support | |
| Bladed 4.11 | Dec 2020 | Jan 2024 | Out of support |
NOTE: Bladed 4.10 and earlier no longer receive bug fixes.
Long-term support (LTS)
During the past 10 years, new major versions of Bladed have been released approximately once per year. Recent major versions have received bug fixes for at least 2 years from release. This is “long-term support” (LTS) and we will continue to release LTS versions approximately once per year.
Short-term support (STS)
In addition, the Bladed team are now releasing “short-term support” (STS) versions in between LTS versions. Bladed 4.13 is the first STS version.
STS versions of Bladed receive bug fixes until the next major version release (STS or LTS). It’s important to note that STS versions are developed, verified and documented to the same standards as LTS versions.
Providing support until the version is replaced by the next release enables new functionality to be delivered to users sooner in new major versions, without significantly increasing the cost of supporting Bladed.
When to use LTS or STS versions
LTS versions receive bug fixes for some years, often covering the full duration of a design project.
STS versions only receive bug fixes until the next major version is released. STS versions can be used for design work, with the knowledge that the user will need to upgrade to the next STS or LTS version once it is released in order to access bug fixes.