Basically, yes, we'll do our best to assist you guys with any version. However, we strongly recommend to keep the software up-to-date along with the compatible versions of the plugins. 

do microsoft have end of life date on they windows version little off topic maybe :)

Yes. All software, even Microsoft, reaches a point where they no longer actively support earlier versions. That doesn't mean that help isn't available. It means they no longer update, or maintain older versions. Microsoft, for example, ceased development on Windows 7 a while back.

okey interesting topic i always use the latest core from oxwall and will continue do as long skadate will use oxwall core an oxwall plugins

It depends on the software company as well Marcus.  I know one company that once the software hits the EOL thats it, no support, no help, no nothing. They tell people they must upgrade and thats it.   

They say the reasons are many but basically that many of the issues in the older version have been fixed with their software current versions, and they don't want to have to fix them in every issue. They also say that it is easier for employee management to just keep them trained on the current version or those that are not EOL yet, it cuts expenses and overtime. 

It also keeps their archive repository at a lower volume which saves space on their drives which saves money.  And also that many of the associated libraries that go along with the software are updated and it is very hard to find those older library files or alternative replacements, so it just makes sense to keep people current. 

I agree, Dave. It completely depends on the software and the updates made. I have worked with music production software for 15 years, and often times a new version of say 8.2 might only have a few tweaks in performance and settings than 1.0.

The big difference is compatibility. When supported hosts no longer support an older version of something, it tends to be phased out anyways. I think with a platform update of a CMS or similar software, you have these multiple components (plugins, themes, etc) that updated as well. Therefore, I think it becomes quite difficult to offer support to something  that has changed significantly.

Short answer... 6 months to a year for support during the "transitional period". Great post!

Thanks for the reply Ryan  :)  I would say a good rule is 3 versions back is all.  So that would mean that if Oxwall had this rule, anything older than 1.8.1 would be EOL.

And all of this does not even cover all of the deprecated functions and other coding that is no longer supported by PHP/MySqli  as well as Apache.  So folks the developers are not trying to make your day miserable by asking you to update.  They are trying to keep you in the stream of better performing and more current functions and features, which will allow your server and software to run better, faster, and safer. 

Software has the same rules as life - its about change and how you cope with it because change is a constant static value in our world.   You can choose not to change but then you get left behind.  The choice is yours :)

I like bee in the future and i hope oxwall will take the steps to bee in the future much faster then other community platforms will take the steps. to bee behind is never good one step in future is the best if ask me :D i think oxwall is on the right way to take the lead in to the future but not really there yet...