Django Release History and End-of-Life Status

Django Lifecycle & End of Life (EOL) Policy

Django rolls out new feature releases about every eight months, bringing fresh tools and refinements while striving to maintain backward compatibility.

Some of these feature releases are chosen as long-term support (LTS) versions, getting backed for around three years. This includes a mainstream phase with complete updates -- bugs, security, crashing issues, regressions, and major functionality problems -- then shifts to extended support for security and data loss fixes only.

Non-LTS feature releases stay supported for a shorter time, generally until a couple of newer ones arrive, receiving full fixes in the meantime.

Patch releases come out to tackle specific problems, with key ones backported to active branches. This setup lets projects upgrade at their own pace while staying protected.

The process keeps innovation flowing steadily and offers solid options for production stability.

This helps applications remain secure and compatible with the latest Python advancements.

Risks of Using End-of-Life (EOL) Versions

Running Django versions beyond their support window leaves systems without patches for emerging threats, heightening chances of breaches or data compromises.

Shifts in Python or database ecosystems can cause incompatibilities, resulting in errors, slowdowns, or broken features over time.

Regulatory standards often demand current software; unsupported setups might fail checks, leading to operational hurdles.

Teams face growing effort on manual fixes, pulling focus from new work. Transitioning timely avoids these issues and unlocks performance boosts.

Common Concerns

• Unpatched vulnerabilities.
• Ecosystem mismatches.
• Compliance risks.
• Rising maintenance load.

What Happens After Django Reaches EOL

Once EOL arrives, official updates stop completely, including security and bug resolutions.

Projects may run for a while, but exposure to new risks grows without ongoing safeguards.

This marks the ideal moment to upgrade, using available guides to handle changes smoothly.

Tracking & Monitoring Django EOL Dates

The supported versions table on the download page lists current statuses and timelines clearly.

Release notes and announcements provide updates on phase changes.

Useful Practices

• Bookmark the versions list.
• Review patch notes.
• Set calendar alerts.

How To Check Your Django Version

In a Python shell or script:

import django
print(django.get_version())

Or from command line:

python -m django --version

In a running project, use manage.py:

python manage.py --version