LoginSign Up
← Back to all sparks
Apache Kafka logo

Apache Kafka

DEVOPS
Velocity2.5

Data streaming

kafka.apache.org ↗

Kafka's release train pairs a feature-rich 4.3 with a steady run of critical bugfix point releases.

streamingkraftshare-groupsopen-sourcerelease-train
◆Current state
Apache Kafka is in active maintenance across multiple branches. The recent feed is dominated by bugfix point releases (4.3.1, 4.2.1, 4.1.2, 4.0.2, 3.9.2) bracketing the feature release 4.3.0, which landed 25 KIPs and over 600 commits. The project is shipping new capability on the minor line while back-porting critical fixes across supported versions.
◆Where it's heading
The cadence shows a maturing post-4.0 KRaft-era project: feature work concentrated in minor releases (4.2 made Share Groups production-ready, 4.3 builds further), with disciplined bugfix and security back-ports keeping older branches viable. Expect the queues and Share Groups line and KRaft consistency work to keep advancing.
◆Prediction
Expect a 4.4 feature release continuing the Share Groups and KRaft trajectory, with bugfix point releases continuing across supported branches in between.

◆Recent moves

  1. 8d ago

    Apache Kafka 4.3.1 Release Announcement

    4.3.1 is a bugfix release, notably fixing a Kafka Streams RocksDB native memory leak — important to take, but maintenance rather than new capability.

    View source ↗
  2. 1mo ago

    Apache Kafka 4.2.1 Release Announcement

    4.2.1 is a bugfix release with several critical fixes on the 4.2 branch — maintenance.

    View source ↗
  3. 1mo ago

    Apache Kafka 4.3.0 Release Announcement

    ⚡ SPARK

    4.3.0 is the feature release of this run — 25 KIPs and over 600 commits since 4.2 — carrying the bulk of the period's new capability.

    View source ↗
  4. 3mo ago

    Apache Kafka 4.1.2 Release Announcement

    4.1.2 is a critical-fix bugfix release on the 4.1 branch — a maintenance back-port.

    View source ↗
  5. 3mo ago

    Apache Kafka 4.0.2 Release Announcement

    4.0.2 is a bugfix release on the 4.0 branch — maintenance.

    View source ↗
  6. 4mo ago

    Apache Kafka 3.9.2 Release Announcement

    3.9.2 is a bugfix and security release, notably KIP-1252 addressing ZooKeeper/KRaft behavior differences — maintenance on the last pre-4.0 branch.

    View source ↗