whatisgithub

What is release?

nodejs/release — explained in plain English

Analysis updated 2026-06-26

4,330JavaScriptAudience · developerComplexity · 1/5Setup · easy

In one sentence

The official repository tracking Node.js release schedules, support timelines, and governance, showing which versions are active, in Long Term Support, in maintenance, or past end-of-life.

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((nodejs-release))
    Release schedule
      New major every 6 months
      Even numbers become LTS
      Odd numbers short life
    Release phases
      Current
      Active LTS
      Maintenance
      End of life
    Teams
      Releasers
      Backporters
      CITGM testing
    Audience
      Developers
      DevOps teams
      Library authors
Click or tap to explore — scroll the page freely

Code map

Detail Auto

An interactive map of this repo's files and how they connect — its source is parsed live in your browser. Click Visualize to build it.

filefunction / class

What do people build with it?

USE CASE 1

Check whether a specific Node.js version you depend on is still receiving security updates or has reached end-of-life.

USE CASE 2

Plan a Node.js upgrade by reviewing the LTS schedule to pick a version with multi-year support ahead.

USE CASE 3

Understand the difference between Current, Active LTS, and Maintenance phases before choosing a version for production.

USE CASE 4

Find out who handles Node.js releases and how security fixes are backported to older supported versions.

What is it built with?

JavaScriptNode.js

How does it compare?

nodejs/releasecortexreach/memory-lancedb-projonasschmedtmann/ultimate-react-course
Stars4,3304,3494,473
LanguageJavaScriptJavaScriptJavaScript
Last pushed2024-11-08
MaintenanceStale
Setup difficultyeasymoderateeasy
Complexity1/53/52/5
Audiencedeveloperdeveloperdeveloper

Figures from each repo's GitHub metadata at analysis time.

How do you get it running?

Difficulty · easy Time to first run · 5min
License terms are not described in the explanation, check the repository directly.

So what is it?

This repository tracks the release schedule and processes for Node.js, the popular tool for running JavaScript on servers and other environments outside a browser. There is very little code here. The primary content is documentation about when each version of Node.js is released, how long it is supported, and who is responsible for making releases happen. Node.js follows a predictable release pattern. New major versions come out every six months, in April and October. Even-numbered versions, such as 22, 24, and 26, become Long Term Support releases, meaning they receive updates and security fixes for several years. Odd-numbered versions receive a shorter support window and are not promoted to Long Term Support status. The README includes a full table showing the current status of every version ever released, from the very first to the most recent. There are three active phases a release can be in. Current means it is receiving the latest non-breaking changes. Active LTS means it is stable and receiving reviewed bug fixes and updates. Maintenance means it only gets critical security fixes. Eventually each version reaches end of life and receives no further updates. The working group that manages all of this is divided into three teams. The Releasers team handles the technical work of building and signing each release. The Backporters team picks fixes from newer versions and applies them to older supported versions. The CITGM team runs a suite of tests against popular packages to confirm that a release does not break widely used software. This repository is essentially a governance and scheduling document for the people who maintain Node.js releases, along with a public record of the release timeline for anyone who needs to know when a version they depend on will stop receiving support.

Copy-paste prompts

Prompt 1
Based on the nodejs/release schedule, which Node.js version should I use for a new production project that needs long-term support through 2027?
Prompt 2
Explain the difference between an Active LTS release and a Maintenance release in Node.js. What kinds of fixes can I expect in each phase?
Prompt 3
I am using Node.js 18. When does it reach end-of-life according to the release schedule, and which version should I migrate to next?
Prompt 4
What is the CITGM team in Node.js releases and how do they test that a new release does not break popular npm packages?
Prompt 5
How does the Node.js backport process work? Who decides which fixes from newer versions get applied to older LTS versions?

Frequently asked questions

What is release?

The official repository tracking Node.js release schedules, support timelines, and governance, showing which versions are active, in Long Term Support, in maintenance, or past end-of-life.

What language is release written in?

Mainly JavaScript. The stack also includes JavaScript, Node.js.

What license does release use?

License terms are not described in the explanation, check the repository directly.

How hard is release to set up?

Setup difficulty is rated easy, with roughly 5min to a first successful run.

Who is release for?

Mainly developer.

Open on GitHub → Ask about another repo

This repo across BitVibe Labs

Verify against the repo before relying on details.