DIS lifecycle definitions

Release Date:
The initial release date of the software product. For major versions, DIS groups all minor versions under the major version and applies the oldest release date. However, for applications with frequent minor releases (e.g., quarterly), DIS records the date associated with the minor version release.

End of Support Date:
This indicates when the manufacturer ceases product support. If only End of Life is mentioned, DIS uses that definition for updating lifecycle fields. End of Support typically applies when new versions replace older versions and primary support ends.

End of Life Date:
This marks the point when the product is no longer marketed, sold, or sustained by the manufacturer. Manufacturers may not always provide this explicitly, so DIS derives the date using related definitions such as End of Engineering or End of Sales. In some cases, the End of Life date is determined from End of Support or End of Extended Support dates. If updates or hotfixes remain available after EOS or EoExtS, DIS sets End of Life as N/A. If there is no support or updates for a version, a date is applied.

End of Extended Support Date:
This date reflects when the manufacturer stops offering extra support, security hotfixes, or development fixes. It may be stated directly or as part of an optional add-on package. Beyond Extended Support, some vendors provide additional purchasable programs such as Microsoft’s Extended Security Updates or Adobe’s Gold Support. These are outside the scope of End of Extended Support and need manual adjustment in Snow by customers.