# Command Beta

OpenStackClient releases do not always coincide with OpenStack releases. This creates challenges when developing new OpenStackClient commands for the current OpenStack release under development since there may not be an official release of the REST API enhancements necessary for the command. In addition, backwards compatibility may not be guaranteed until an official OpenStack release. To address these challenges, an OpenStackClient command may be labeled as a beta command according to the guidelines below. Such commands may introduce backwards incompatible changes and may use REST API enhancements not yet released. This also applies to command options associated with the beta command object.

See the examples below on how to label an entire command or a specific option as a beta by updating the documentation and implementation.

The initial release note must label the new command or option as a beta. No further release notes are required until the command or option is no longer a beta. At which time, the beta label or the command or option itself must be removed and a new release note must be provided.

## Beta Command Example

### Documentation

The command documentation must label the command as a beta.

#### example list

List examples

Caution

This is a beta command and subject to change. Use global option `--os-beta-command` to enable this command.

    openstack example list

### Help

The command help must label the command as a beta.

    class ShowExample(command.ShowOne):
        """Display example details

           (Caution: This is a beta command and subject to change.
            Use global option --os-beta-command to enable
            this command)
        """

### Implementation

The command must raise a `CommandError` exception if beta commands are not enabled via `--os-beta-command` global option.

    def take_action(self, parsed_args):
        self.validate_os_beta_command_enabled()

## Beta Option Example

### Documentation

The option documentation must label the option as a beta.

--example <example>

  Example

  Caution

  This is a beta command option and subject to change. Use global option `--os-beta-command` to enable this command option.

### Implementation

The option must not be added if beta commands are not enabled via `--os-beta-command` global option.

    def get_parser(self, prog_name):
        if self.app.options.os_beta_command:
            parser.add_argument(
                '--example',
                metavar='<example>',
                help=_("Example")
            )

this page last updated: 2026-04-01 09:44:20

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