MAKERS CHOICE (MC) & Long-Term Support (LTS):
Maximum continuity and security – maximum freedom for you!
As a maker, you already know this from Simplifier: You have the choice between the annual Simplifier Long-Term Support (LTS – formerly Major Release) and the rolling releases of the Simplifier functions (formerly EHP upgrade – now MAKERS CHOICE). You’ve probably already found the right update rhythm for you because every IT has its individual preferences. Good this way!
Both release options for staying up to date with Simplifier obviously have their advantages:
- With Simplifier MAKERS CHOICE (MC), you are more in tune with the times and, thanks to the regular 8-week release cycle, you can see more precisely what is happening with the product and where there are news and improvements. As makers, we of course recommend the Simplifier MAKERS CHOICE because you can always use the most up-to-date Simplifier.
- With Simplifier Long-Term Support (LTS) you can install the entire software update package in one go. Once a year a Simplifier MAKERS CHOICE is also released as LTS in addition. This is easy to plan. However, you will have to wait a little longer until all the new functions are fully available. A good choice for everyone who needs as few changes as possible.
And what suits YOU better? Are you more of an LTS or MC type?
With us, you have the choice!
Do you have any questions or requests or would you like to know more precisely which release cycle would be best for your IT? Get in touch with us – we at the MAKERS CLUB are always there for you!
MAKERS CHOICE (MC) vs. Long-Term Support (LTS)
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MAKERS CHOICE
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- Current Release
MAKERS CHOICE 25-01 - New release every 8 weeks
- Ready for productive usage
- Weekly Quality Updates
- Preview of features
⭐⭐⭐ - Supported until the release of the next MAKERS CHOICE
- Current Release
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Long-Term Support
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- Current LTS Release
Simplifier 9 - New release once a year
- Ready for productive usage
- Weekly Quality Updates
- Preview of features
⭐ - Supported until 3 months after the release of the next LTS
- Current LTS Release
FAQ
Once a week we publish Quality Updates to our maintained MAKERS CHOICE and Long-Term Support releases.
Quality Updates contain fixes and improvements that guarantee:
- No manual migration steps are necessary
- App Users are not affected
Read more in our documentation.
Long-Term Support (LTS) Releases are maintained until 3 months of release of the next LTS releases.
Our Release Cycle provides one new LTS release per year.
In general, we recommend our MAKERS CHOICE release option, as you get constantly new features that bring new value to Simplifier.
But there are also valid cases, where it is better to stick to our Long-Term Support release option. For example, if you have critical applications running on shopfloor where you want to have as few changes as possible.
You are uncertain which release option fits best? Do not hesitate to talk to your Customer Success Contact. They can give you a personal recommendation based on your needs and environment.
The current Simplifier Mobile Client always supports all maintained Simplifier Releases. For a list of all maintained Simplifier Releases see our Release Cycle documentation.
Experimental or preview features are deactivated by default. You can activate them by setting the required environmental variables.
For more information on the activation of feature flags see our Feature Lifecycle.
We offer Quality Updates on a weekly base for all maintained release options. You will also find the latest changelog in our MAKERS CLUB.
New MAKERS CHOICE releases will be released every 8 weeks. Once a year, a MAKERS CHOICE release is also released as a Long-Term Support release.
For more information about our Release Cycle read here.
Quality Updates should be automatically installed upon publishing. If your instance is hosted in Simplifier Cloud or you followed our installation and upgrade guidelines, this is already active. If you have not the current Quality Update installed, our Support Team will ask you to update your instance in case of any new ticket.
Instances with the MAKERS CHOICE release option have to be upgraded as soon as possible after the release of the next MAKERS CHOICE release because support ends for all prior MAKERS CHOICE releases.
Instances with the Long-Term Support release option have a 3-month transition period starting with the publishing of the next LTS release.
For more information about our release cycle read here.
With each MAKERS CHOICE Release, we state all changed behaviors and migrations to be done in our Release Notes. For our Long-Term Support (LTS) Releases, we update and publish also with each MAKERS CHOICE release Pre-Release Notes providing all the information that has to be done with upgrading to the next Long-Term Support release. This allows all LTS customers to prepare for the next LTS way before it is published.
- If you have chosen the MAKERS CHOICE release option, you should upgrade to each new MAKERS CHOICE version as soon as possible, as support is only provided for the current MAKERS CHOICE release.
- For Long-Term Support releases, there is also a 3-month transition period, during which the last LTS is still supported.
Important: You decide when your instances are upgraded. If your instances are hosted in the Simplifier Cloud, simply raise a service ticket in our support portal to trigger the upgrade.
For each release option, you can always switch to newer releases.
E.g. if your instance is running on MAKERS CHOICE 24-11, you can switch to the next Long-Term Support release that will be published. In that case Simplifier 10.
Each MAKERS CHOICE release is only supported until the next one is published. This release option is based on regular and smaller upgrades reducing the time and effort required for an upgrade.
As having to upgrade to get support in case of an issue, we strongly recommend sticking to our plannable release plan and upgrading as soon as possible after a new MAKERS CHOICE release is published.
MAKERS CHOICE releases are stable and ready to be used in productive environments.
See our Feature Lifecycle to get more information on how we publish new features to gain productive stability.
MAKERS CHOICE releases are maintained until the next MAKERS CHOICE release is published.
For more information, see our Release Cycle.
We are publishing all features ready to be released with the next MAKERS CHOICE on our public roadmap, which is available to all our customers/partners, and their community users.
For each release option, you can always switch to newer releases.
E.g. if your instance is running on Simplifier 9, you can switch to a MAKERS CHOICE release that will be published after 20th November 2024. In that case MAKERS CHOICE 25-01 or newer.
Long-Term Support releases are maintained until 3 months after the next Long-Term Support release is published.
E.g. Simplifier 9 was published on 20th November 2024. Simplifier 8 is therefore supported until 19th February 2025.
Long-Term Support (LTS) releases do not get their own features. Instead, the combined features of all MAKERS CHOICE releases published since the last LTS are the features for each LTS.
Simply follow the Release Notes of the MAKERS CHOICE releases and you know what to expect. In addition, were are publishing and updating pre-release notes for each next Long-Term Support release with every MAKERS CHOICE, to give you enough time to prepare for the next upgrade.
Maintained Simplifier Releases
Release | Release date | End of support |
Simplifier 8 LTS | 31-07-2023 | 19-02-2025 (3 months after release of Simplifier 9 LTS) |
Simplifier 9 LTS | 20-11-2024 | 3 months after release of Simplifier 10 LTS |
MAKERS CHOICE 25-01 | 15-01-2025 | 12-03-2025 (Release of Makers Choice 25-03) |
Future Simplifier Releases
Release | Release date | End of support |
Simplifier 10 LTS | 2025. A specific date will be published later | tbd |
MAKERS CHOICE 25-03 | 12-03-2025 | 07-05-2025 |
MAKERS CHOICE 25-05 | 07-05-2025 | 02-07-2025 |
MAKERS CHOICE 25-07 | 02-07-2025 | 27-08-2025 |
MAKERS CHOICE 25-08 | 27-08-2025 | 22-10-2025 |