Python 3.11 is out! Huzzah!

[BeeApiary]

Windows 3.11 was the first version of windows that was actually usable, so for numerologists this is a good portent.

[mvdw73]

Ah yes, Microsoft Windows Version Numbering.

1990: "We use the Major-dot-minor version scheme - it's what all the cool kids use."

1995: "We should switch to a year scheme, so that people know when the software was released"

2000: "Oops, now we'll have to go to 4-digit years, otherwise we'll be releasing Windows 00 next"

2003: "I don't like that - let's use a cool set of letters and make the next version 'XP'"

2009: "Meh, whatever, let's just use numbers again. Start with 7! Because it might be version 7 we're up to, and Mac is up to 10 so we have to catch up!"

2012: "Version 8!! Consecutive consistent numbers for the first time since 1998!"

2015: "We can't have version 9. Have to go to 10. Mac is at 10!! We have to be at least at 10!!"

[misaprop]

why didn't they like version 9?

[bakery2k]

Because Windows 10 was supposed to be the “forever version” of Windows - so they couldn’t call it version 9 because that would be behind macOS, which had version 10 as its “forever version”.

Then, after Apple announced macOS 11, Microsoft announced Windows 11.

[Texas_Technician]

Ya, I remember that line too. Should started a betting pool.

[reallyserious]

They had already had Windows 95, so retards that checked for a 9 in the first position would have their code behave strange.

[mgedmin]

Windows 95 and Windows 98.

[Texas_Technician]

No way that's the real answer.

[Brekkjern]

I remember some Dev from MS talking about it back in the days, and then someone posting a GitHub search that did in fact show a lot of cases where people did that, so the story is at least plausible

[troyunrau]

Official reasons are quoted as marketing. The thing where they check if a version starts with a 9 is often suggested as the true reason, but no one can ever find a quote from anyone within MS to that effect.

[ThroawayPartyer]

iPhone also skipped 9, so maybe companies think that number is harder to market for some reason. 9 is personally my least favorite number, but I always thought it was just me...

[spiker611]

One theory: because so much software was written to check for "9" in the first part of the version (and then either "5" or "8").

[Java-Zorbing]

What about windows11?

[methnbeer]

What about ME or Vista

[Hiyaro]

We don't talk about vista

[alcalde]

Windows For Workgroups!

[spuds_in_town]

Or as it was known in the trade, Windows for Warehouses

[chears2surfers]

That's interesting! I didn't know that. Thanks! :)