Windows as a service

Windows as a service (WaaS) is the development model Microsoft has adopted for Microsoft Windows after the release of Windows 10. Instead of releasing a major version of Windows every few years, the company instead releases smaller feature updates in shorter intervals.
Since Windows transitioned to Azure's semester model in 2019, new features are planned with respect to the so-called semesters rather than feature updates. From a development viewpoint, semesters are equivalent to releases as the active development branch goes through feature development, stabilization and sign-off phases during each semester. However, they are independent from the actual releases available to the public as the company does not necessarily release a new version at the end of each semester, e.g. three semesters passed between Windows 11 and Windows 10 May 2020 Update (Manganese, Iron, Cobalt).
Recent rumors suggest that Microsoft might be moving back to a traditional release schedule, with a major version of Windows releasing every three years. The period between two major versions would then be spanned by shipping minor feature updates called Moments, up to four times a year.https://www.windowscentral.com/software-apps/windows-11/microsoft-moves-to-new-windows-development-cycle-with-major-release-every-three-years-feature-drops-in-between
== List of development semesters ==
Name 	Abbr.	Semester	Rel. branches	Release 	Release 	Release 	Release	Notes
Name 	Abbr.	Semester	Rel. branches	Client 	Server 	AzLocal 	Xbox 	Notes
Threshold 1	TH1 	 	 	Windows 10 	 	 	 	
Threshold 2	TH2 	 	 	Windows 10 November Update 	 	 	v1510 	
Redstone 1 	RS1 	 	 	Windows 10 Anniversary Update 	Windows Server 2016 	 	v1608 	
Redstone 2 	RS2 	 	 	Windows 10 Creators Update 	 	 	v1704 	
Redstone 3 	RS3 	 	 	Windows 10 Fall Creators Update 	v1709 	 	v1710 	
Redstone 4 	RS4 	 	 	Windows 10 April 2018 Update 	v1803 	 	v1804 	
Redstone 5 	RS5 	 	 	Windows 10 October 2018 Update 	Windows Server 2019v1809	v20H2 	v1810 	
Titanium 	Ti 	19H1 	 	Windows 10 May 2019 Update 	v1903 	 	v1904 	First iteration under the Azure semester scheme
Vanadium 	V 	19H2 	 	Windows 10 November 2019 Update 	v1909 	 	v1910 	Cumulative update for 19H1 (Titanium)
Vibranium 	Vb 	20H1 	 	Windows 10 May 2020 UpdateWindows 10 October 2020 UpdateWindows 10 May 2021 UpdateWindows 10 November 2021 UpdateWindows 10 2022 Update	v2004v20H2 	 	v2004 	Named after the Marvel Comics element instead of continuing the line of chemical elements with Chromium in order to prevent confusion with the web browser project.
Manganese 	Mn 	20H2 	 	 	 	 	 	
Iron 	Fe 	21H1 	 	 	Windows Server 2022 	v21H2v22H2	 	
Cobalt 	Co 	21H2 	 	Windows 11 	 	 	v2108 	
Nickel 	Ni 	22H2 	 	Windows 11 2022 UpdateWindows 11 2023 Update 	 	 	v2208 	Originally 22H1, later changed to 22H2 and expanded to cover the entire year.
Copper 	Cu 	23H1 	 	 	 	 	 	
Zinc 	Zn 	23H2 	 	 	v23H2 	v23H2 	v2308 	
Gallium 	Ga 	24H1 	 	 	 	 	 	
Germanium 	Ge 	24H2 	 	Windows 11 2024 Update 	Windows Server 2025v24H2	v24H2 	v2408 	
Dilithium 	Dt 	25H1 	 	 	 	 	 	Named after the Star Trek element instead of continuing the line of chemical elements with Arsenic because of its negative associations.
Selenium 	Se 	25H2 	 	 	 	 	 	
==Notes==
 
==References==