LibreOffice Release Cycle: Fresh vs Still Explained

LibreOffice operates on a structured, time-based release cycle that maintains two active streams simultaneously: the Fresh branch and the Still branch. The Fresh stream offers the newest features and technology improvements tailored for power users and early adopters, while the Still stream provides a mature, thoroughly tested version optimized for enterprise stability. Over a standard release life cycle, versions progressively transition from Fresh to Still as they receive bug fixes and stabilization updates.

The Fresh Release Stream

The LibreOffice Fresh branch represents the cutting edge of the software suite’s development.

• Target Audience: Enthusiasts, power users, and early adopters who want access to the latest feature additions, compatibility updates, and user interface enhancements.
• Release Timing: A new Fresh version is released roughly every six months (typically in February and August).
• Initial State: Fresh releases launch at version X.Y.0. While tested extensively during development, initial builds may still contain minor bugs or regressions that have not yet been discovered in wide-scale production.

The Still Release Stream

The LibreOffice Still branch is the conservative, enterprise-ready build.

• Target Audience: Corporate deployments, schools, government agencies, and general users who prioritize rock-solid reliability and consistency over new features.
• Characteristics: Still releases have undergone several months of real-world usage and multiple rounds of bug-fixing point releases.
• Stability Focus: Instead of introducing new features, updates to the Still branch focus strictly on security patches, stability, and critical bug resolutions.

The Progression and Support Cadence

The transition between Fresh and Still follows a predictable lifecycle:

1. Major Release Launches (Fresh): A new branch starts as Fresh at X.Y.0.
2. Monthly Point Updates: The branch receives maintenance updates roughly once per month (e.g., X.Y.1, X.Y.2, X.Y.3).
3. Transition to Still: When the next major release launches six months later (becoming the new Fresh), the previous Fresh branch transitions to the Still branch—typically around its .4 or .5 point release.
4. End of Life (EOL): Each release branch is maintained for approximately 9 to 12 months in total, culminating around the .6 or .7 point release, at which point users are expected to upgrade to the current Still or Fresh version.