We're distributing a Cocoa framework with regular updates. We'll be updating the version numbers with each release. The Apple documentation appears to suggest that version numbers should be consecutive incrementing integers. We are distributing output in several formats, and the framework is only one of them. We would rather not have to maintain a separate numbering system just for our frameworks.

We don't really care about the precise format of the version numbers of the framework, so long as they change whenever the product changes, and behave in a correct and expected manner. I'm looking for a sensible and correct way of avoiding having to run a separate version number counter.

One suggestion is that for product version 12.34.56 we could simply remove the dots and say the framework version is 123456.

• Is there a constraint on the type of number that can be represented (uint? long?)
• Does it have to be a number? Could it be a string?
• Do the numbers have to be consecutive?
• Is there a standard way of doing things in this situation?