Version 11.5 - Intermezzo To Introduce Pre-update Compatibility Checks & Built-In Backups

Version 11.5 - Intermezzo

Before beginning work on Version 12, we plan a slight deviation from our normal development process. The process (both good and bad) of updating to Version 11 has given us more feedback highlighting ways that we can make this process smoother and safer for users. We are going to work on an iteration of the Foundry VTT software represents an intermediate update between Version 11 and Version 12, "V11.5", if you will. This update will invest into two features:

Pre-update Compatibility Check

We will expand and enhance the software update check with a utility that examines your currently installed game systems and modules and provides a list of their compatibility status with the updated software version that you are considering to install. This will allow users to understand - before downloading an update - what the compatibility of their systems and modules will be. This interface will differentiate between packages which are:

1. Already compatible with the new version
2. Not compatible, but with a compatible upgrade available
3. Not compatible, without any compatible upgrade available

We believe this enhancement will improve transparency and awareness around the update process and help users to make the right decision about when they should update. We will not be back-porting this feature to V10 or any older generation, so we want to do this work as part of "V11.5" so it can be useful when the time comes for users to update from V11 to V12 (or later).

Built-In Backups

When updating Foundry Virtual Tabletop, our most frequent and most important piece of advice to users is to back up relevant user data to protect yourself and preserve the opportunity to downgrade back to the previous version of the software which you were using. We have observed that, without an easy tool for creating and managing backups, users may choose to skip this step. We never want to be in the position of telling someone "you can't go back to how things were before" - so we are going to build a tool that makes it easy to capture backups and restore data from a backup.

You will be able to backup your worlds, either individually or in bulk, and take a 'snapshot' of all your packages before you perform a major version updated. These backups will be stored in a separate data location. We will provide an interface that allows you to see your available backups and restore them, or rollback your entire installation to how it was before you updated Foundry Virtual Tabletop.

These two features are intended to make the process of updating Foundry Virtual Tabletop more transparent and more safe to ensure that everyone can enjoy the awesome new features we will deliver in V12 (and beyond) without unintentionally passing a point-of-no-return. Our team hopes that you are excited by the potential for "V11.5" as a bonus expansion of Foundry Virtual Tabletop before we begin work on Version 12.

Source: https://foundryvtt.com/article/v12-patreon-vote/