When is it time to install new IDE version?

So, in the very short amount of time that I've been using the Arduino IDE, the official release has gone from v1.6.12 to v1.8.1.

I'm just curious about how the long-time users handle new releases. I've seen some imply on this forum that they have multiple versions installed. I guess disk space is cheap, but what is the advantage of doing that? How do you decide when to install a new version? Monitor the release notes and install when some critical mass of bug fixes is reached?

Thanks in advance.

I get the new version whenever it does something new that I need that the version I have doesn't. I get the new version if it fixes something that has been bugging me about the one I have. I never get it just because it is there and I NEVER get the latest newest version. I just assume that the latest version is completely untested and I don't want it until I've seen someone else find all the bugs.

If the version I have works, I just keep it. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

If you use 1.6, after the upgrade you get scrollable text boxes, you have the graphing option, then there are new boards added.

Do you have to upgrade, no, if you do keep the old version around for a while.

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Reasons to have multiple Arduino IDE versions installed:

  • You have code that only works with certain IDE versions.
  • You want to test projects that you're distributing for compatibility with multiple IDE versions.
  • You want to be able to provide support for people using various IDE versions.
  • You have the hourly build installed to do beta testing but want to have an official release version installed also to use when you need a greater chance of stable operation.
  • Narrowing down the cause of a bug. It can be useful to test with multiple IDE versions to determine if it's isolated to certain IDE version(s).

I have 19 IDE versions installed right now but I always use the hourly build when I'm doing development so I can beta test at the same time. I wouldn't recommend that practice to someone getting started with Arduino. Better to just stick with a stable version to avoid introducing unnecessary extra complications into the learning process.

gfvalvo:
Monitor the release notes and install when some critical mass of bug fixes is reached?

That sounds like a good idea. Also, follow events on this forum. I get the the impression that, if you use an SD card, v1.8 is a rather bad idea. I don't really know what the problem is and have little motivation to find out - v1.5 R2 is fine. I just wish it would give a me a truly blank new file.