Just Curious About The Version Numbering For The Early Access Apps

Hi folks,

TLDR: The Early Access program is about the new 1Password experience/ecosystem as we continue to add more platforms to it; not really about the "first 8.0 version" for each platform. We're continuously iterating and improving 1Password on all platforms at the same time while focusing on 1Password for macOS next to graduate from the Early Access program with iOS/Android platforms next on our list.

The Early Access program is more about introducing our new Rust-based unified core-based versions of 1Password for all platforms. A unified codebase is awesome for being able to ship features across all platforms at the same time; we already see that in action with our desktop beta builds being released at the same time across Linux, macOS and Windows platforms as well as stable updates are being shipped on Windows and Linux at the same time.

However, to ensure each platform is getting the best possible experience such as integration with the OS on a deeper level; we stagger the first platform stable releases, so we can focus on the platform one at a time such as making sure to optimize and add platform-specific features that customers expect from us on each platform.

To expand on this; 1Password for Linux was the first to graduate from the Early Access program back in May with the first 8.0 stable release. 1Password for Windows was the next platform for us to focus on and now it has now graduated a few weeks ago with the first 8.4 stable release (alongside 1Password 8.4 for Linux stable update as well). Both 1Password for Linux and Windows were being iterated and improved together because they share the same core and thus the versions were incrementing. That means we can expect the same for the rest of the platforms as they join and graduate from the program.

Now, the current platform we're focusing on is macOS and it is the only app that's in the Early Access program. It may be pointed out that we've already started to move away from the Early Access labeling in the forum as we continue to mature the ecosystem and releasing more platforms and using the regular beta updates for the stable platforms.

The Early Access program may end (or evolve) when we release the stable update for the last platform; either Android, iOS or maybe something else as well.

In other words, the version numbering system itself doesn't mean anything, we could do 1Password 8.100 for macOS and maybe even jump to 1Password 9 for iOS/Android if we want. What's more interesting is when we start to do all platforms altogether and shipping new features more quickly to everyone.