Version Number
From Unofficial BOINC Wiki
[edit] General
A number that is assigned to a software item that allows the Participants to determine if they have the latest version of that software item. In many cases there is a major version number and a minor version number. For example, a version number like 3.08 would be considered to be major version number 3 and minor version number 08.
However, the BOINC software version numbering is going to change with the next major version. Linux Version Numbering will be used for numbering versions. For example, the client development will start with 5.1.x version, and once it is declared stable, version 5.2.x will be produced. The odd numbers in the second place will denote development versions, and even number will mark the versions that are recommended for public use. The x marks minor versions.
The importance of these numbers in the BOINC System is that changes to the software may be of such a nature that the Participants will have to update the software version to continue to participate in a Project. A version number is assigned to the BOINC Client Software and also to the Science Application and they may not be identical values.
Sometimes a more general term "version" is used when discussing a software product. For example, "What version are you running?" where the person asking the question just uses the shorter term because the word "number" is implied.
There is another system of numbering which is called a Build Number and it may, or may not, have any direct or indirect attachment to a specific version number; that is just to make it easier on us when we attempt to determine why our computer stopped working.
