Neptune DXP - SAP Edition life cycle

Neptune DXP - SAP Edition has existed since 2011, and although its name may have evolved, its fundamental core remains unchanged. The life cycle of Neptune DXP - SAP Edition commences upon the release of a new version and concludes when support is no longer provided. Understanding this life cycle enables you to make well-informed choices regarding when to upgrade or implement alterations in your environment.

SAP Basis support:

  • Neptune DXP 21 and below: SAP Basis 7.01

  • Neptune DXP 22 and above: SAP Basis 7.31

Release train model

Neptune DXP - SAP Edition’s release life cycle follows a release train model that ensures the delivery of releases according to a structured and recurring release cadence. The release train model enables regular delivery of incremental improvements and establishes long-term stability through explicitly defined maintenance and support windows.

Semantic versioning

Neptune DXP - SAP Edition releases follow the semantic versioning (SemVer) methodology:

MAJOR.MINOR.PATCH

  • MAJOR: Introduces breaking changes to the platform.

  • MINOR: Delivers routine feature releases without breaking existing functionality.

  • PATCH: Supplies safe bug-fix updates and small corrections.

In the context of the Neptune DXP - SAP Edition release train model, semantic version numbers indicate compatibility impact only and are not used to express feature stability/maturity, or support duration.

Where breaking changes are introduced as a result of internal architectural changes or external dependency updates, a release may be published as a new major version, even if it follows a regular minor-release cadence (for example, 24.16.0 → 25.0.0).

Support designation

At its discretion, Neptune applies two support designations to minor releases (or major releases in the event of breaking changes) produced by the release train to classify maintenance scope and support duration in accordance with the Maintenance and Support Agreement:

  • Medium-Term Support (MTS)

  • Long-Term Support (LTS)

Each support designation includes a defined support window, ensuring you always know which versions are maintained, how long a version receives fixes, and when to plan upgrades.

sap edition cadence visualization
Figure 1. Visualization of approximate release cadence and support designations

The following table summarizes the support designations applied to minor releases within the Neptune release train. Each minor release is initially classified as a release with Medium-Term Support (MTS) by default.

Certain minor releases with Medium-Term Support (MTS) may later be designated as Long-Term Support (LTS) once they have demonstrated sufficient maturity and stability. Support windows, delivery cadence, and transition rules are defined independently of semantic versioning and release timing.

Patch releases of respective MTS and LTS support designations follow the support window of the corresponding minor release with either MTS or LTS support designation.

Support designation Support designation logic Purpose Support window Delivery cadence Notes

Medium-Term Support (MTS)

Default classification for all minor releases

Deliver incremental features and continuous innovation between minor releases with LTS designation

Ends 3 months after the next minor release with MTS designation

Aim to release ~2 yearly minor versions that start with MTS support designation

Subsequent LTS designation of later releases does not modify MTS support period

Long-Term Support (LTS)

Transition from MTS when release reaches maturity and stability (typically after ≥1 patch)

Serve as a stable baseline within the release train

Begins at release and continues until the third subsequent minor release designated as LTS

Aim to designate maximum 1 minor release with MTS support designation per year as LTS

Overlapping support windows ensure continuous availability

Choose a minor release with MTS support designation to get all the latest features in Neptune DXP - SAP Edition. If you require support for features from a minor release with MTS support designation beyond the MTS support window, you must upgrade to the next compatible version release.

Choose a minor release with LTS support designation for maximum stability of tested features. Newest features from subsequent minor releases with MTS support designations are not included until you upgrade to the minor release with LTS support designation.

Current Neptune DXP - SAP Edition maintenance status

Version Support Released Designated LTS Maintenance Status End of Maintenance

DXP 24.14.0

LTS

Q4/2025

January 2026

Maintenance

Q1/2029 (24.19 LTS)

DXP 24.10.0000

LTS

Q4/2024

N/A

Maintenance

Q4/2027

DXP 23

LTS

Q4/2023

N/A

Maintenance

Q4/2026

DXP 22

LTS

Q4/2022

N/A

Out of maintenance

Q4/2025

DXP 21

LTS

Q4/2021

N/A

Maintenance

Q4/2027, see note

DXP 6

LTS

Q4/2020

N/A

Out of maintenance

Q4/2022

DXP 5

LTS

Q4/2018

N/A

Out of maintenance

Q4/2021

UXP 4

LTS

Q1/2016

N/A

Out of maintenance

Q4/2019

UXP 3

LTS

Q1/2014

N/A

Out of maintenance

Q1/2017

UXP 2

LTS

Q2/2013

N/A

Out of maintenance

Q1/2016

NAD 1

LTS

Q4/2011

N/A

Out of maintenance

Q1/2015

Neptune has adjusted the maintenance schedule for Neptune DXP - SAP Edition 21 LTS to align with SAP’s end of mainstream maintenance for SAP ECC 6.0 on December 31, 2027.

Updated Support Timeline

For existing customers:

  • Full Neptune DXP - SAP Edition 21 LTS support (all components) continues until end of October 2026

  • Front end: Transitions from Neptune DXP - SAP Edition 21 LTS to Neptune DXP - Open Edition after October 2026

  • API Designer and API Factory: Continue to be supported under Neptune DXP - SAP Edition 21 LTS until December 2027

For new customer onboarding:

  • Front end: Deployed directly with Neptune DXP - Open Edition (no Neptune DXP - SAP Edition 21 LTS front-end deployment)

  • API Designer and API Factory: Deployed with Neptune DXP - SAP Edition 21 LTS and supported until end of December 2027

Release forecast

The following table illustrates upcoming releases within the Neptune release train. Version numbers follow semantic versioning, while support designations are applied independently. All minor releases are classified as Medium-Term Support (MTS) at release. Selected releases may later be designated as Long-Term Support (LTS) based on demonstrated maturity. LTS designation is applied post-release and does not affect release cadence.

Version Planned release quarter Initial support LTS designation (post-release)

24.14.0

Q4 2025

MTS

Yes

24.15.0

Q2 2026

MTS

—

24.16.0

Q4 2026

MTS

Yes

24.17.0

Q2 2027

MTS

—
The versions shown in the table represent planned minor releases. If compatibility-breaking changes are introduced due to internal evolution or external dependency constraints, Neptune may, at its discretion, promote the affected release to the next major version (for example, 24.16.0 → 25.0.0). In such cases, subsequent version numbering is adjusted accordingly. This does not affect the release train cadence or the MTS/LTS support designation principles.

Documentation version scope

Neptune DXP - Open Edition documentation is published in alignment with the release train model and reflects the functional scope of each release:

  • LTS documentation sets aggregate all applicable changes introduced across the support window between two LTS designations.

  • MTS documentation sets describe the incremental changes introduced by the respective innovation release.

  • The most recent MTS documentation is published independently once the release becomes available.

For example, the 24.14 LTS documentation includes cumulative changes introduced since the previous LTS release (24.10 LTS), whereas the 24.15 MTS documentation is published as a standalone MTS set describing that release only.

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