edition

edition

A specific publication of software or a product. Each revision of a book is called an edition, thus, an edition typically refers to its content. With regard to software, there may be a "free edition" that offers a limited number of functions, while the "paid edition" provides the most. There can be several editions of software. For example, Google Workspace is available in Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus and Enterprise editions, each offering more features.

Edition--> Version
The terms edition and "version" are used synonymously; however, a version generally refers to an update of a product. For example, version 6 of the Home Edition of an application means that the software has been modified five more times since its inception.

Edition--> Version--> Release
An edition is the top of the hierarchy, and it may have many versions. A version is sometimes called a release; for example, Release 8.5 could be the same as Version 8.5. To add more confusion, there can be a version with subsequent releases; for example, a particular edition of the application could be available as Version 11, Release 4.

PUBLICATION HIERARCHYEdition (or version)Version (or release)Release

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The following article is from The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1979). It might be outdated or ideologically biased.

Edition

 

the number of copies printed of a given title. In the USSR and other socialist countries, the number of copies printed of a book, pamphlet, or similar publication is planned in advance by the publisher in consultation with book-trade organizations after ascertaining the readers’ demand for the projected title. Short runs have up to 15,000 copies, medium runs, up to 100,000 copies, and mass long runs, more than 100,000 copies. Long runs are usually printed by several repeat runs (in Russian, zavody) owing to the large volume of printing that must be met at any one time. In the publication of some types of material, the size of the edition affects the author’s royalties. The number of copies in an edition is generally indicated in the publication information (the imprint).

In the capitalist countries, the size of the edition is determined by the publisher after surveying the book market and calculating the projected profit. As a rule, the number of copies printed is not indicated in the publication information.

The Great Soviet Encyclopedia, 3rd Edition (1970-1979). © 2010 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.