Branching your Autoupdate Notifier for 2.9.x

Since having already noted that upcoming Styx Next is a major upgrade (see 2.9.0 post), which will require a modern PHP 7 version, we have to give some Important Notes about branches and future upgrades.

The current alpha state of the masters branch NEXT Development already requires PHP 7.1.3 as the absolute Minimum. This may even raise up to a required PHP 7.3.x version before (beta) release(s) in the next few months, in 2019/20. If you still are on Debian 9 last stable Stretch for example, you actually have a PHP 7.0.x version running that will not change until a Debian 10 Buster upgrade is performed. Even though it is possible to upgrade such a system to a newer PHP version, even provided by its Maintainer, some of you have or want to stick to PHP 5.6 or PHP 7.0 a little longer.

Serendipity Styx 3.0 does not only require an up-to-date PHP version, it also requires PHP/GD/ImageMagick with --webp support and an openSSL version which is at least a Debian Buster version like 1.1.1d for strongest login encryption! DO NOT use upcoming 3.0 on a system less than Debian Buster (10)!

To not get in conflict with the upcoming major 3.0 upgrade(s), you have to set up a new Update-RELEASE-file URL in your Backend Configuration Panel. Open Configuration - General Settings - and see the option Update RELEASE-file URL. There you add this new URL, pointing to the branch RELEASE file and submit the form: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ophian/styx/styx2.9/docs/RELEASE

Now you will only get future update request notes if a new branch release, like (next) 2.9.2 is prepared to supply. If you then are ready for upcoming Styx 3.0 Next, you just change it back to the master branch at: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ophian/styx/master/docs/RELEASE