How deeply does API Design Patterns cover lifecycle?

Defines four states, their change policies, and a month-by-month progression, but does not detail implementation mechanics.

Lifecycle

As explained in API Design Patterns

A version lifecycle is the ordered progression of an API version through preview, current, deprecated, and deleted states.

A version lifecycle moves an API version through Preview, Current, Deprecated, and Deleted states, balancing rapid delivery against compatibility and maintenance costs. section 24.3.2

Use each state with a deliberately narrow change policy:

Preview permits all changes while functionality remains unstable and users accept possible breakage. section 24.3.2
Current freezes the version except for mandatory changes and critical bug fixes, protecting client code. section 24.3.2
Deprecated marks a former Current version for impending removal under a deprecation policy. section 24.3.2
Deleted removes or makes the deprecated version inaccessible. section 24.3.2

Sliding-window API releases

Version 1 starts as Preview in January, becomes Current in February, Deprecated in March, and Deleted in May. Meanwhile, newer versions progress through the same sequence, keeping feature work moving without modifying the stable version. section 24.3.2

Table 24.1 Overview of different version states (view table figure)

State	Description	Change policy
Preview	An unstable and still-in-progress preview of functionality users should expect to exist in the next current version	All changes permitted
Current	A very stable set of functionality that should not change and can be expected to continue running for some pre-decided amount of time	Only mandatory changes
Deprecated	A prior current version that is scheduled for impending removal according to the deprecation policy	Only mandatory changes
Deleted	A prior deprecated version that has been removed or otherwise made inaccessible to users	N/A

Compare the four lifecycle states with their descriptions and permitted changes. section 24.3.2

How API Design Patterns covers it

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Also explained in

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Akka in Action, Second EditionA lifecycle is the progression of a system component through defined operational states from startup to removal or termination.
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Web Components in ActionA Unity component lifecycle is the sequence of phases and callbacks governing a component in the Unity game engine.
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Build a Frontend Web Framework (From Scratch)The sequence of stages through which a user-interface component is created, updated, and removed.
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Pro ASP.NET Core 7, Tenth EditionA component lifecycle is the sequence of stages and events governing a component's initialization, parameter assignment, rendering, updating, and disposal.
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Data for AllA data life cycle is the sequence of stages through which data passes from creation through transformation, use, analysis, and derivative creation.

Compare how 6 books explain lifecycle →

Related concepts

mounthas part · Mounting is the lifecycle phase in which a component is created and its initial rendered representation is inserted into the user interface.
unmountinghas part · Unmounting is the lifecycle phase in which a component is removed from the rendered interface and its representation is discarded.
lifecycle methodhas part · A lifecycle method is a framework- or runtime-invoked method or callback that runs at a defined stage in an object, component, or system’s lifecycle.
optimizationhas part · Optimization is the systematic selection or adjustment of values, actions, or system designs to improve a specified objective, often subject to constraints.
customizationhas part · Customization is the adaptation of a system, component, or model to meet specific requirements, tasks, preferences, or intended uses.

This explainer was generated by Manning's knowledge graph from the text of API Design Patterns. The section links point to the parts of the book it draws on.