openSUSE:Roadmap

openSUSE Release Cycle

openSUSE provides multiple release models to suit different use cases: rolling releases for users who want the latest software, atomic releases for secure and stable read-only systems, and classic releases for enterprise-grade stability.

For detailed lifecycle info of Tumbleweed and Leap, see The Lifetime Wiki Page.

Release Types

Rolling Releases

Release	Description	Release Cycle
Tumbleweed	Continuously updated; always the latest packages.	Rolling
Slowroll	Experimental, slower than Tumbleweed; still newer than Leap.	30 days

Atomic Rolling Releases

Release	Description	Release Cycle
Aeon	Initially based on MicroOS; read-only system for stability.	Same as Tumbleweed
Kalpa	Experimental KDE Plasma spin on MicroOS; read-only.	Same as Tumbleweed
MicroOS	Server/desktop atomic system; secure and stable.	Same as Tumbleweed

Classic Releases

Release	Description	Minor Release Cycle	Support
Leap	Regular release based on the newest SUSE Linux Enterprise available at the time.	~12 months	Maintenance updates for 2 releases (~24 months)
Leap Micro	Combines Leap stability with MicroOS security; specialized appliances.	Same as Leap	Same as Leap

Calendar & Scheduling

Events are listed on the openSUSE calendar.

Default scheduling: 15:00–15:30 (full-day events not supported).
Supports iCalendar subscriptions: product schedule.

Note: The product schedule view still has some usability issues.

Active Releases

Leap 16.1

Leap Micro 6.3 will be incorporated as an Appliance image of Leap 16.1.

Milestone	Date	Notes
Alpha Availability	Jan, 2026	Matches SLES 16 Beta 1; upgrade tests in place
Beta Code Submission	Apr, 2026	SLES 16.1 Public Beta deadline
Beta Build Done	May, 2026	Public availability of first Beta; regular updates weekly/bi-weekly
Soft kABI freeze	Jun, 2026	Informative: SLES Final Product ABI and Crypto
Crypto freeze, hard kABI freeze	Jul, 2026	Informative: SLES Hard kABI freeze
RC Code Submission	Sep, 2026	In sync with SLES 16.1 Public RC; SLFO:Main branched into stabilization
Gold Master Candidate Code Submission	Oct, 2026	All translations pulled; finalized release notes
Gold Master Build	Oct, 2026	~1 week after confirmed SLES 16.1 GM
Public Availability	Oct, 2026	GA at 12:00 UTC
Release Retrospective Survey Open	Oct, 2026	survey.opensuse.org
Collect Feedback	Oct, 2026	Data available at https://en.opensuse.org/Category:Leap
End of Life	Tue, Oct 31, 2028	Leap 16.1 becomes EOL once 16.3 is released (eta Oct/Nov 2028)

Leap 16.0

Important: Leap Micro 6.2 adopts the Leap 16.0 schedule. Leap Micro 6.3 will follow Leap 16.1.

Milestone	Date	Notes
Public Availability	Wed, Oct 1, 2025	GA at 12:00 UTC
Release Retrospective Survey Open	Wed, Oct 1, 2025	survey.opensuse.org
Collect Feedback	Wed, Oct 15, 2025	Data available at https://en.opensuse.org/Category:Leap
End of Life	Sun, Oct 31, 2027	Leap 16.0 becomes EOL once 16.2 is released (eta Oct/Nov 2027)

Leap 15.6

Milestone	Date	Notes
Public Availability	Wed, Jun 12, 2024
End of Life	Thu, Apr 30, 2026	No longer supported. Time to upgrade.

See upgrade options for Leap to remain supported.

Leap 15.5

Milestone	Date	Notes
Public Availability	Wed, Jun 7, 2023
End of Life	Tue, Dec 31, 2024	No longer supported. Time to upgrade.

See upgrade options for Leap to remain supported.

Active Leap Micro Releases

Leap Micro is a re-brand of SLE Micro RPMs with minor configuration tweaks. Typically trails SLE Micro releases by ~1 month.

Leap Micro 6.0

Milestone	Date	Notes
Public Availability	Tue, Jun 25, 2024	Available
Planned End of Life	Thu, Apr 30, 2025	After Leap Micro 6.2 release

See upgrade options for Leap Micro to remain supported.

Leap Micro 6.1

Milestone	Date	Notes
Public Availability	Thu, Dec 5, 2024	Available
Planned End of Life	Thu, Nov 30, 2025	After Leap Micro 6.3 respective Leap 16.1 release

Leap Micro 5.5

Milestone	Date	Notes
Public Availability	Thu, Oct 12, 2023
End of Life	Mon, Nov 11, 2024	No longer supported.