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Add OS maintenance strategy to documentation #2397

Description

@MikeMcC399

Suggestion

Extend the CONTRIBUTING document to describe the strategy for including and adding new images, either by adding text or referring to a separate new document.

This should reference:

  • which operating systems are included (currently Alpine and Debian)
  • how / when new operating system versions are added
  • how / when operating system versions are removed
  • how the default operating system version is set and maintained for a given Node.js release line
  • how the default Node.js version is set and maintained for a given operating system selection
  • how architectures will be added / maintained / removed
  • if supported architectures change during the lifecycle of Node.js / operating system versions, describe how these will be handled

Related

#2363

Activity

  1. MikeMcC399 commented on Mar 4, 2026

    @MikeMcC399
    ContributorAuthor

    For Debian, suggestion submitted as #2398

  2. yosifkit commented on Mar 4, 2026

    @yosifkit
    Contributor

    More points to consider (which are both bounded by which architectures parent images support)

    • how / when architectures are removed
      • For example, when Debian releases move from "release architecture" to "LTS", they usually drop to a more limited set of architectures.
    • how / when architectures are added
  3. MikeMcC399 commented on Mar 6, 2026

    @MikeMcC399
    ContributorAuthor

    @yosifkit

    Thanks! I've added your suggestions to the list in a generic form.

  4. MikeMcC399 commented on Aug 24, 2026

    @MikeMcC399
    ContributorAuthor

    More points to consider (which are both bounded by which architectures parent images support)

    • how / when architectures are removed

      • For example, when Debian releases move from "release architecture" to "LTS", they usually drop to a more limited set of architectures.

    Added through PR #2609 for Debian. CONTRIBUTING > Version Updates is updated with information concerning Debian releases and lifecycle transitions.

    • how / when architectures are added

    That aspect is still not completely described

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