# Backward Compatibility

pyOpenSSL has a very strong backward compatibility policy. Generally speaking, you shouldn’t ever be afraid of updating.

If breaking changes are needed do be done, they are:

1. …announced in the Changelog.

2. …the old behavior raises a `DeprecationWarning` for a year.

3. …are done with another announcement in the Changelog.

# Versioning Policy

pyOpenSSL follows CalVer in YY.MINOR.MICRO format. Unlike SemVer, major versions represent the year, and are not indicative of breaking changes.