Feature lifecycle

Crossplane follows a similar feature lifecycle to upstream Kubernetes. Crossplane adds all major new features in alpha. Alpha features graduate to beta, and then to general availability (GA). Features that languish at alpha or beta may be subject to deprecation.

Alpha features

Alpha features are off by default, and you must enable them by a feature flag, for example --enable-composition-revisions. API types for alpha features use a vNalphaN style API version, like v1alpha. Alpha features are subject to removal or breaking changes without notice, and aren’t considered ready for use in production.

Sometimes alpha features require Crossplane to add fields to existing beta or GA

API types. In these cases you must mark fields (for instance in their OpenAPI

schema) as alpha and subject to alpha API constraints (or lack thereof).

All alpha features should have an issue tracking their graduation to beta.

Beta features

Beta features are on by default, but you may disable them by a feature flag. API types for beta features use a vNbetaN style API version, like v1beta1. Crossplane considers beta features to be well tested, and doesn’t removed without Crossplane marking them deprecated for at least two releases.

The schema and/or semantics of objects may change in incompatible ways in a later beta or stable release. When this happens, the team provides instructions for migrating to the next version. This may require deleting, editing, and recreating API objects. The editing process may require some thought. This may require downtime for applications that rely on the feature.

Sometimes beta features require Crossplane to add fields to existing GA API types. In

these cases you must mark fields (for instance in their OpenAPI schema) as beta

and subject to beta API constraints (or lack thereof).

All beta features should have an issue tracking their graduation to GA.

GA features

GA features are always enabled - you can’t disable them. API types pertaining to GA features use vN style API versions, like v1. GA features are widely used and well tested. They guarantee API stability - Crossplane only allows backward compatible changes.