# Build Number Ranges Defining product compatibility by specifying plugin since-build and until-build ranges. Use this reference of build number ranges to specify the correct `since-build` and `until-build` values in your plugin descriptor. Setting the actual values in [plugin.xml](plugin_configuration_file.md) is managed by [`patchPluginXml`](tools_gradle_intellij_plugin.md#tasks-patchpluginxml) Gradle task, see [](configuring_plugin_project.md#patching-the-plugin-configuration-file). Please note the following regarding values: - Values must represent the actual build numbers, any made-up numbers must not be used (e.g., `999.*`, `2023.4`, or `2023.9999` for `until-build`). - Not specifying `until-build` means it will include _all_ future builds (including unreleased IDE versions, which might impact compatibility later). - Dot star suffix (`.* `) can be used in `until-build` to support all releases for the specific branch (i.e., `222.*` for all 2022.2.x releases). > Compatibility with the specified version range (and compatible products) must always be verified using [](verifying_plugin_compatibility.md#plugin-verifier) to ensure binary compatibility. > > Plugins hosted on [JetBrains Marketplace](https://plugins.jetbrains.com) are checked automatically. > According to [Approval Guidelines](https://plugins.jetbrains.com/legal/approval-guidelines), incompatible plugin versions will be restricted by JetBrains if necessary. > {style="warning"} ### Build Number Format To denote a release, a multipart build number is used. It consists of the following parts: * Product ID (`IC` for IDEA Community, `IU` for IDEA Ultimate, `RM` for RubyMine, `PY` for PyCharm, `PS` for PhpStorm, etc.) * Branch number (`162`) * Build number in the branch (`94`) Branch numbers are based on the `YYYY.R` [IDE release version numbers](https://blog.jetbrains.com/blog/2016/03/09/jetbrains-toolbox-release-and-versioning-changes/). The branch number takes the last two digits of the year and the `R` release number. For example, `162` for 20*16.2*, `163` for 20*16.3*, etc. The build number may have multiple components: `IU-162.94.11`, `IU-162.94.11.256.42`. This gives more flexibility for third-party plugins and IDE developers. Plugins may specify compatibility versions more precisely (e.g., requiring a specific bugfix release); IDE vendors may have build numbers based on a specific IntelliJ Platform version and specify additional internal version (e.g. `256.42` in `XX-162.94.11.256.42`) to allow plugin developers for their IDE to specify compatibility. Multipart build numbers can also be used in the `since-build` and `until-build` attributes of `idea-version`. Usually you should omit the product ID and use only the branch number and build number, for example: ```xml ``` ```xml ``` > Specific build numbers and their corresponding release version are available via _Previous Releases_ on the corresponding product's download page, e.g. [Previous IntelliJ IDEA Releases](https://www.jetbrains.com/idea/download/previous.html). > See also [What versions of IntelliJ-based IDEs are supported?](https://intellij-support.jetbrains.com/hc/en-us/articles/360019574859-What-versions-of-IntelliJ-based-IDEs-are-supported-) for JetBrains IDE support policy. > {style="note"} ### IntelliJ Platform Based Products of Recent IDE Versions > Which versions should your plugin support? We've collected some insights based on download statistics in [Statistics: Product Versions in Use](https://plugins.jetbrains.com/docs/marketplace/product-versions-in-use-statistics.html). > When supporting multiple major versions, it is strongly recommended to build against the _lowest_ supported version to guarantee backwards-compatibility. In the case of supporting a range of platform versions with different underlying Java level it is _required_. See [](verifying_plugin_compatibility.md) for tooling support to ensure compatibility with chosen version range and IDEs. Consult [Incompatible API Changes](api_changes_list.md) and [Notable API Changes](api_notable.md) for an overview of known breaking and relevant changes. | Branch number | IntelliJ Platform version | |-----------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | [231](https://github.com/JetBrains/intellij-community/tree/231) | 2023.1 | | [223](https://github.com/JetBrains/intellij-community/tree/223) | 2022.3 | | [222](https://github.com/JetBrains/intellij-community/tree/222) | 2022.2 **NOTE** Java 17 is now required ([blog post](https://blog.jetbrains.com/platform/2022/08/intellij-project-migrates-to-java-17/)) | | [221](https://github.com/JetBrains/intellij-community/tree/221) | 2022.1 | | [213](https://github.com/JetBrains/intellij-community/tree/213) | 2021.3 | | [212](https://github.com/JetBrains/intellij-community/tree/212) | 2021.2 | | [211](https://github.com/JetBrains/intellij-community/tree/211) | 2021.1 | | [203](https://github.com/JetBrains/intellij-community/tree/203) | 2020.3 **NOTE** Java 11 is now required ([blog post](https://blog.jetbrains.com/platform/2020/09/intellij-project-migrates-to-java-11/)) | | [202](https://github.com/JetBrains/intellij-community/tree/202) | 2020.2 | | [201](https://github.com/JetBrains/intellij-community/tree/201) | 2020.1 | | [193](https://github.com/JetBrains/intellij-community/tree/193) | 2019.3 | | [192](https://github.com/JetBrains/intellij-community/tree/192) | 2019.2 | | [191](https://github.com/JetBrains/intellij-community/tree/191) | 2019.1 | Note that there is no `YY0`. In the `YYYY.R` versioning scheme, the `R` part starts at 1.