Unleashing the Power of Version Comparison with libversion

Version comparison can be a challenging task in software development. While comparing simple versions like 1.0 and 1.1 may seem straightforward, dealing with complex cases like 1.2-x.3~alpha4 requires a robust solution. Enter libversion, an advanced version string comparison library that takes version comparison to the next level.

Features

Libversion offers a range of powerful features to handle version comparisons with ease:

1. Simple versions: Libversion handles basic version comparisons effortlessly, ensuring accuracy and reliability.
2. Omitting insignificant components: It recognizes that 1.0 is equal to 1.0.0, making comparisons more intuitive.
3. Leading zeroes: Libversion understands that 1.001 should be treated as 1.1, allowing for precise comparisons.
4. Unusual separators: It gracefully handles various separators like hyphens and tildes, ensuring accurate comparisons even in unconventional formats.
5. Letter suffixes: Libversion knows how to order versions with letter suffixes, making complex version comparisons seamless.
6. Alphanumeric prerelease components: It supports different formats for alphanumeric prerelease components, ensuring consistent and accurate comparisons.
7. Awareness of prerelease keywords: Libversion recognizes prerelease keywords like “alpha” or “beta,” ensuring correct ordering in version comparison.
8. Customizable handling of p keyword: It allows users to define whether p should stand for “patch” or “pre,” providing flexibility based on specific requirements.

API

Libversion provides clear and efficient APIs for version comparison:

• version_compare2(const char* v1, const char* v2): Compares version strings v1 and v2 and returns -1 if v1 is lower, 0 if they are equal, and 1 if v1 is higher.
• version_compare4(const char* v1, const char* v2, int v1_flags, int v2_flags): This extended API allows users to specify flags for each version argument to fine-tune the comparison behavior. The flags control aspects such as treating p as patch or pre, considering any letter sequence as post-release, or deriving the lower or upper bound of a given version prefix.

Example

Here’s an example illustrating libversion’s capabilities for version comparison:

“`c

include

include

int main() {
/ Simple versions /
assert(version_compare2(“0.99”, “1.11”) == -1);

/* Omitting insignificant components */
assert(version_compare2("1.0", "1.0.0") == 0);

/* Letter suffixes */
assert(version_compare2("1.0alpha1", "1.0.rc1") == -1);

/* Pre/Post release handling */
assert(version_compare2("1.0", "1.0-rc1") == 1);

/* Unusual separators */
assert(version_compare2("1.2.3alpha4", "1.2.3~a4") == 0);

/* Customizable handling of 'p' keyword */
/* Default: `p` is treated as `pre` */
assert(version_compare2("1.0p1", "1.0pre1") == 0);
assert(version_compare2("1.0p1", "1.0post1") == -1);
assert(version_compare2("1.0p1", "1.0patch1") == -1);

/* Customized handling: 'p' is treated as 'patch' */
assert(version_compare4("1.0p1", "1.0pre1", VERSIONFLAG_P_IS_PATCH, 0) == 1);
assert(version_compare4("1.0p1", "1.0post1", VERSIONFLAG_P_IS_PATCH, 0) == 0);
assert(version_compare4("1.0p1", "1.0patch1", VERSIONFLAG_P_IS_PATCH, 0) == 0);

/* Version belonging check */
assert(
    version_compare4("1.0alpha1", "1.0", 0, VERSIONFLAG_LOWER_BOUND) == 1) &&
    version_compare4("1.0alpha1", "1.0", 0, VERSIONFLAG_UPPER_BOUND) == -1) &&
    version_compare4("1.0.1", "1.0", 0, VERSIONFLAG_LOWER_BOUND) == 1) &&
    version_compare4("1.0.1", "1.0", 0, VERSIONFLAG_UPPER_BOUND) == -1);
/* 1.0alpha1 and 1.0.1 belong to 1.0 release, e.g. they lie between
   (lowest possible version in 1.0) and (highest possible version in 1.0) */

}
“`

Building and Usage

Building and using libversion is straightforward. The library uses the CMake build system for easy integration into projects.

To build the library, run cmake . && cmake --build .

To run the test suite, run ctest after building.

To install the library system-wide, run make install.

Libversion also provides bindings for popular languages like Python and Go, enabling seamless integration into different development environments.

Conclusion

With libversion, you can unleash the power of version comparison in your software development projects. Whether you need to compare software versions, package versions, or any other version strings, libversion has you covered. Say goodbye to version comparison challenges and embrace effortless and accurate comparisons with libversion.

Give it a try and see the difference it can make in your development workflows. Experience the efficiency, accuracy, and flexibility that libversion brings to your version comparison tasks.

Stay tuned for future updates and enhancements to libversion as we continue to refine and expand its capabilities.

Have you tried libversion in your projects? We would love to hear your feedback and experiences!

Author: Dmitry Marakasov