[Dolibarr-dev] Dolibarr 5.0 freeze and new version 4.0.2

[Laurent Destailleur (aka Eldy)]

Hi Dolibarr developers.

Time to start the beta of the next major version has come. The release candidate version should be ready for January, so as usual, we must start the beta period few month ago, so now.

To follow modern pratice about namin convention, next major version followin the 4.0 will be called 5.0 and not 4.1. I still don't know why we spent so many times (10 years) to increase the second level of number used commonly to describe a minor chane when it was major release, but well, late is better than never.

So, starting from this week-end, the beta period for 5.0 will be launched. No new features will be added from PR.

As usual, "started development" are allowed to be continued to be finished for final release. Work on not stable modules are also still opened because such modules won't be visible by users.  Among works already started and that are qualified to continue to push PR that are not bu fixed, we may find:

- work on advanced accountancy (double party) module,  

- multicurrency module

- work to simplify code to support oauth

- website module

- management of a VAT code to be able to distinguish different VAT with same rate

- theme enhancement to be more responsive designed

- uniformization of the look and feel and usae of the dol_banner for all tabs.

- translation changes

- changes required to allow package generations

After the freeze, new features will be suspended until the branch for 5.0 is created. Then merging PR for new features will be possible again into develop branch.

Also, architecture, reenginering, or best practice code enhancements will be discarded during this period. Instead any help is welcome to fix all opened bug: See https://github.com/Dolibarr/dolibarr/issues

More information on what a "freeze" mean: https://wiki.dolibarr.org/index.php/Category:RoadMap

Version 5.0 has a very good compatibility behaviour with external modules, so you can already check your external modules are still working with this version.

A Changelog (not yet detailed with coming new features) is available in the current development branch that will be used to start the freeze to give information on what was changed and may need attention of external developers or upgraders.

Also, note that a maintenance version, version 4.0.2 was released few days ago to provide recent fixes available for branch 4.0.

More information on what a "maintenance version" mean: https://wiki.dolibarr.org/index.php/Category:RoadMap

Laurent Destailleur, aka Eldy

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