preferences presented in {doc}`current_style` are very unlikely to change, but minor
style aspects and details might change according to the stability policy presented
below. Ongoing style considerations are tracked on GitHub with the
-[design](https://github.com/psf/black/labels/T%3A%20design) issue label.
+[style](https://github.com/psf/black/labels/T%3A%20style) issue label.
+
+(labels/stability-policy)=
## Stability Policy
The following policy applies for the _Black_ code style, in non pre-release versions of
_Black_:
-- The same code, formatted with the same options, will produce the same output for all
- releases in a given calendar year.
+- If code has been formatted with _Black_, it will remain unchanged when formatted with
+ the same options using any other release in the same calendar year.
+
+ This means projects can safely use `black ~= 22.0` without worrying about formatting
+ changes disrupting their project in 2022. We may still fix bugs where _Black_ crashes
+ on some code, and make other improvements that do not affect formatting.
- This means projects can safely use `black ~= 22.0` without worrying about major
- formatting changes disrupting their project in 2022. We may still fix bugs where
- _Black_ crashes on some code, and make other improvements that do not affect
- formatting.
+ In rare cases, we may make changes affecting code that has not been previously
+ formatted with _Black_. For example, we have had bugs where we accidentally removed
+ some comments. Such bugs can be fixed without breaking the stability policy.
- The first release in a new calendar year _may_ contain formatting changes, although
these will be minimised as much as possible. This is to allow for improved formatting