[TYPO3-core] TYPO3 releases compatibility with PHP, MySQL and Browsers

[Ernesto Baschny]

Hi,

thanks for your feedback and the discussion. There are some different
opinions, but at the end I come to the conclusion that we should keep
IE8 support in 6.2 LTS. The reasoning can be summarized with:

1) it doesn't take much effort to do so (good cost/benefit, since it
already works),
2) we will make some customers happy by keeping this compatibility, if
not even broaden the customer base by some big players if we do so.

We have had very little issues with the IE6 compatibility in 4.5 after
it was released, mainly because we have the policy of no "new features"
in a released version. I don't expect that to be different in 6.2 with IE8.

After 6.2 is released we can the "rip off the hacks" and go with IE9 (or
even IE10...): "big players" won't care and we can then pave the way for
the next LTS in a couple of years. ;)

Thanks!

Kind regards,
Ernesto

Ernesto Baschny [cron IT] schrieb am 06.09.2013 23:22:
> Hi,
> 
> I kept get asked about the official statement about compatibility of
> TYPO3 releases with either PHP versions, MySQL versions and also Browser
> versions. Especially with both LTS versions.
> 
> We discussed the topic in the release team meeting this week and came to
> some conclusions, which I would like to share:
> 
> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
> TYPO3 4.5 LTS:
> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
> 
> * PHP: back then specificed as: 5.2.x - 5.3
>   => we will officially also support PHP 5.4 and 5.5
> 
> * MySQL: back then specificed as: 5.0 - 5.1
>   => we will also officially support MySQL up to 5.5
> 
> Note: This is especially important, as it should make it "supported" to
> run TYPO3 4.5 also on newer Linux distributions! Since we know that "it
> works" we don't expect any changes required.
> 
> * Browsers: IE6+ and all fancy modern browser
>   => that's still ok
> 
> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
> TYPO3 4.7:
> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
> 
> * PHP 5.3.x
>   => will officially also support PHP 5.4 and 5.5
> 
> * MySQL: 5.0 - 5.1
>   => will officially also support MySQL up to 5.5
> 
> * Browsers: not specified anywhere
>  => IE7+ and other modern browsers
> 
> Note: please note that 4.7 is in "critical fixes only" phase, and we
> might decide on a case-by-case basis what fix is "critical".
> 
> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
> TYPO3 6.0:
> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
> 
> * PHP 5.3.7 - 5.4
>   => will officially also support PHP 5.5
> 
> * MySQL: 5.1 - 5.5
>   => still ok
> 
> * Browsers: not specified anywhere
>  => IE8+ and other modern browsers
> 
> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
> TYPO3 6.1:
> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
> 
> * PHP 5.3.7 - 5.4
>   => will officially also support PHP 5.5
> 
> * MySQL: 5.1 - 5.5
>   => still ok
> 
> * Browsers: not specified anywhere
>  => IE8+ and other modern browsers
> 
> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
> TYPO3 6.2 LTS:
> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
> 
> * PHP 5.3.7 - 5.5
> 
> * MySQL: 5.1 - 5.6
>  => "MySQL and compatibles" (which could include i.e. MariaDB or Percona
> if they are compatible)
>  => for MySQL 5.6 a certain "compatibility setting" is required, Benni
> Mack will give us more info on that.
> 
> * Browsers:
>  => IE8+ and other modern (desktop) ones
> 
> The decision for IE8 means that "it works" with IE8 but we don't
> guarantee that it looks exactly the same (i.e. CSS3 properties). IE8 is
> especially important as this is the last version of IE that runs with
> Windows XP.
> 
> Depending on the statistics you want to use, IE8's market share
> currently is between 5% and 15%.
> 
> What's your opinion on that? Should we drop IE8 support for 6.2 LTS and
> go straight for IE9 considering the downwards trend of it's market share
> (and TYPO3 4.5 still being supported until end of 2014 for those who
> care...)?
> 
> After our discussion round, I will update the packages page with this
> information, and also add rework a bit
> http://typo3.org/about/typo3-the-cms/system-requirements/
> 
> Kind regards,
> Ernesto Baschny
> 


-- 
Ernesto Baschny
TYPO3 CMS Core Developer
Release Manager TYPO3 4.5 & 6.2 LTS

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