dktapps
commented
1 year ago Due to some recently discovered issues, PM5's final release will be delayed again. New target is now 1st June 2023.
The following things remain to be addressed, requiring this extra delay:
- Finalizing pthreads-ng modernization. These remaining issues need to be addressed before PM5 release, otherwise we'll be stuck with them until PM6.
- Addressing some recently-discovered performance issues. Some of these problems require BC breaks and system design changes to address, which can't be rushed within a couple of weeks if we're to get them right.
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5622
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5623
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5624
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- Fixing up the new world handling systems introduced in PM5:
- Invalid blockstates generated by converters such as Chunker causing maps to be filled with update! blocks
- Too many 3D biome arrays generated by converters such as Chunker causing entire chunks to be discarded as corrupted
However, the PM5 feature freeze will remain in place, and the beta releases will continue. You should expect to see improvements in stability and performance going forward, but there will be changes that affect plugins. I will endeavour to avoid changes that aren't strictly necessary to meet the objectives laid out above.
I know that this is disappointing for some users, and I don't enjoy having to repeatedly push back these release targets either, but it's better than releasing a new major version knowing that some of these issues will stick around for another year if not addressed promptly.
The release target for PM5 is quickly approaching. Because of this, the team's focus is on making sure that 5.0.0 is ready to release. During this time, bug fixes and improvements to PM4 may be slower.
With this in mind, here are some key pieces of current information you might find interesting.
5.0.0 planned release date
Current release target is 1st June, 2023. This has been delayed to allow more time to address some blocking issues and performance problems that became apparent during the beta phase.
See the announcement update for details.
Current release target is 31st March, 2023. This has been slightly delayed from the previous target (01/03/2023) to allow more time to iron out some remaining unforeseen tasks and to allow a longer beta testing period.What about 4.x? Will it continue to be supported?
After 5.0.0 release, 4.x will enter a grace support period. It will receive game updates and bug fixes only for at least 3 months after the 5.0.0 release, after which it will cease to be supported.
The grace period may be extended if the protocol updates after the 3-month mark aren't too much of a hassle to support. (Fortunately, PM4 is a lot easier to maintain than PM3). However, you should not rely on this.
What happens between now and the 5.0.0 release date?
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Until March 1st, final remaining API changes may be accepted as long as they aren't huge or controversial. This includes QoL stuff and consistency improvements. In addition, some necessary backlogged tasks will be done (such as #5546 and #5548). On March 1st, 5.0 will enter a **feature-freeze**, after which no new features or BC breaks will be accepted, unless they are fixing some show-stopper problem. The first feature-frozen version will be released as **5.0.0-BETA1**. We expect the beta phase to last about a month, unless there are major problems that need to be addressed.See the announcement update for more information.
What can I expect from PM5?
Here's a brief overview of the highlights:
You can follow the full changelog here.
Previous announcements
You can also take a look at #5097 if it interests you.