Release Naming

OpenStack releases are numbered using a YYYY.N time-based scheme. For example, the first release of 2012 will have the 2012.1 version number. During the development cycle, the release is identified using a codename. Those codenames are ordered alphabetically: Austin was the first release, Bexar is the second, Cactus the third, etc.

These codenames are chosen by popular vote using the basic Launchpad poll feature over the ~openstack group. Codenames are cities or counties near where the corresponding OpenStack design summit took place:

Austin: The first design summit took place in Austin, TX
Bexar: The second design summit took place in San Antonio, Bexar county.
Cactus: Cactus is a city in Texas
Diablo: Diablo is a city in the bay area near Santa Clara, CA
Essex: Essex is a city near Boston, MA
Folsom: Folsom is a city near San Francisco, CA

Only single words with a maximum of 10 characters are good candidates for a name. Bonus points for sounding cool.