openSUSE:Roadmap
openSUSE Release Cycle
Tumbleweed is openSUSE's rolling release, which is constantly updated and always at the 'latest release'.
Aeon was initially based on MicroOS, has taken its own form as a read-only system, release cycle: same as Tumbleweed
Kalpa is currently an experimental spin on MicroOS, and is designed to give people a top tier KDE Plasma Experience on a read-only system, release cycle: same as tumbleweed
MicroOS is a server desktop to keep things stable and secure, release cycle: same as Tumbleweed
Leap Micro is designed to give people the stability of Leap with the security that comes with MicroOS, release cycle: released twice a year.
Slowroll is currently an experimental spin of Tumbleweed designed to be faster than Leap but not as fast as Tumbleweed, release cycle: every 30 days
Leap is openSUSE's regular release, which is has the following estimated release cycle:
- One minor release is expected approximately every 12 months, aligned with SUSE Linux Enterprise Server Service Packs. We do provide 6 months of overlap support in between releases so Leap users get up to 18 months per individual release.
- One major release is expected after approximately 36–48 months, aligned with SUSE Linux Enterprise Server Releases.
Leap is always based on the newest SUSE Linux Enterprise Server available to the date. Next release of Leap will be 16.0 which will be based on SUSE Linux Enterprise 16.0
The life cycle of Tumbleweed and Leap are documented in The Lifetime Wiki Page.
Active Leap releases
Schedule for Leap 16.0
Mon, Oct 7th, 2024 pre-Alpha availability
o Install images available at https://get.opensuse.org/
o Staging and quality control with openQA prior to publishing in place
Wed, Jan 15th, 2025 Alpha availability
o Matching SLES 16 Beta 1
o Upgrade tests in place
Mon, Apr 21st, 2025 Beta Code Submission deadline
o Corresponds with SLES 16 Public Beta code-drop deadline
Tue, Apr 29th, 2025 Beta build done
o Leap enters Beta phase
o Public availability of the first Beta build
o Regular Beta updates on a weekly/bi-weekly basis
o Maintenance setup (WARNING: blocked on Git migration)
Mon, May 26th, 2025 SLES ABI and Crypto freeze
o Informative! SLES Final Product ABI and Crypto
Thu, Jun 26th, 2025 Hard kABI freeze
o Informative! SLES Hard kABI freeze
Mon, Jul 21st, 2025 RC Code Submission deadline
o Corresponds with SLES 16 Public RC code-drop deadline
o SLFO:Main branched into stabilization branch
o Deadline is at 15:00 UTC
Mon, Aug 18th, 2025 Gold Master Candidate Code Submission deadline
o Deadline is at 15:00 UTC
o In sync with SLES 16.0 GMC candidate code submission deadline
o All translations were pulled
o Finalized release notes
Wed, Sep 24th, 2025 Gold Master Build
o Approximately one week after a confirmed SLES 16.0 GM
Wed, Oct 1st, 2025 Public Availability of the Release
o Leap 16.0 will be released to the public at 12:00 UTC
Wed, Oct 1st, 2025 Release retrospective survey is open
o Release retro on survey.opensuse.org is open right after GA
Wed, Oct 15th, 2025 Collect feedback from the retrospective
o Data available at https://en.opensuse.org/Category:Leap
Schedule for Leap 15.6
Schedule is a subject to change especially in case that SLES 15 SP6 schedule changes.
Wed, Jun 12, 2024 Public Availability of the Release
o Leap 15.6 will be released to the public at 12:00 UTC
Sun, Dec 31st, 2025 EOL
o Leap 15.6 will be End of life. See SDB:How_to_migrate_to_SLE for a longer support. o The plan is to extend deadline and deliver users 6 months of overlap with Leap 16.0.
o Share feedback of the retrospective with community.
Schedule for Leap 15.5
Schedule in .txt | Schedule in .ics
Wed, Jun 7, 2023 Public Availability of the Release
o Leap 15.5 was released to the public at 12:00 UTC
Thu, Jun 8, 2023 Release retrospective survey is open
o Release retro on survey.opensuse.org is open right after GA
Thu, Jun 22, 2023 Collect feedback from the retrospective
o Share feedback of the retrospective with community.
Wed, Oct 4th, 2023 Quarterly Update 1
o Respin of installation images, if we identify a reason to respin (can be skipped)
Wed, Jan 17th, 2024 Quarterly Update 2
o Respin of installation images, if we identify a reason to respin (can be skipped)
Wed, May 8th, 2024 Quarterly Update 3
o Respin of installation images, if we identify a reason to respin (can be skipped)
Tue, Dec 31st, 2024 EOL
o Leap 15.5 is End of life. See SDB:How_to_migrate_to_SLE for a longer support.
Active Leap Micro releases
Leap Micro is simply a re-brand of SLE Micro rpms with some product building configuration tweaks.
Our goal is to be tailing SLE Micro typically with roughly a one month delay, hat usually translates into the previous milestone.
SLE Micro is released twice a year.
Schedule for Leap Micro 5.5
Leap Micro is simply a re-brand of SLE Micro rpms withs ome product building configuration tweaks. Our goal is to be tailing SLE Micro typically with roughly a one month delay, hat usually translates into the previous milestone.
Tue, Dec 31, 2024 Planned End of Live
o Leap Micro 5.5 will reach end of life soon after the next-next release is out
Schedule for Leap Micro 6.0
Tue, June 25, 2024 Public Availability of the Release
o Leap Micro 6.0 is available
Thu, April 30, 2025 Planned End of Live
o Leap Micro 6.0 will reach end of life after Leap Micro 6.2 is released.
Schedule for Leap Micro 6.1
Thu, Dec 05, 2024 Public Availability of the Release
o Leap Micro 6.1 is available
Thu, Nov 30, 2025 Planned End of Live
o Leap Micro 6.1 will reach end of life after Leap Micro 6.3 is released.
Draft Schedule for Leap Micro 6.2
Wed, Jan 29, 2024 Alpha build is done
o Initial setup in OBS o Images are building o openQA setup
Wed, Feb 12, 2024 Beta build is done
o Based on SL Micro 6.2 Public Beta
Wed, March 12, 2025 RC build is done
o Maintenance workflow in place o Migration path from previous major version is documented
Wed, April 23, 2025 Public Availability of the Release
o Leap Micro 6.2 is available
Thu, April 30, 2026 Planned End of Live
o Leap Micro 6.2 will reach end of life after Leap Micro 6.4 is released.
See also
- Wikipedia entry (sometimes more up to date)
- Build Service roadmap page about planning details
- openSUSE Release process
- Lifetime of openSUSE releases