New API version for every release?

Question

Since my company still focuses on D7, I haven't yet had time nor need to use Drupal 8. I am planing to step into it soon, so I browsed around to read up about it. While clicking through current API pages, I figured that there is a new link for every 8.x release.

Since Drupal 7 ended up with over 40 Releases, do we have to expect the same amount on API versions for Drupal 8? Shouldn't it be one link for all 8.x releases like it was on Drupal 6 and Drupal 7?

Answer 1

Drupal 8 has a new versioning system, with the following format:

Major.minor.bugfix

Minor versions are expected every 6 months (8.1.0 was recently released), and will contain backwards compatible enhancements and new features, but will remain compatible with code written for earlier releases of the same major version.

So Drupal 8.1.x contains new features and API enhancements, but remains compatible with modules developed for 8.0.x.

This will allow Drupal to be more agile in future, and new features won't be limited to major releases, but compatibility with modules should be maintained.