SDK Release and Maintenance Policy

Support Policy for Gecko SDK and Simplicity SDK

Reminder Notice

GSDK Release Maintenance Expiration

• GSDK 4.1 (Latest Version 4.1.6) maintenance expires end of September
• GSDK 3.2 (Latest Version 3.2.9) maintenance expires end of October

Patch Release Schedule

Every major.minor release receives a minimum of 18-months of support.  Support is broken into two categories: active and maintenance. 

Active

• The most recent major.minor release is the active release
• Patches may include fixes for any level of issue
• New active releases are made approximately every 6 months
  

Maintenance

• Releases move to maintenance when a newer release is available
• Patches include fixes for high-impact issues only
• Maintenance period lasts for approximately 12 month
  

Archived

• Maintenance is no longer provided
• Extended Software Maintenance Service (SEMS) may be available. See our SEMS page for details.

Long Term Support (LTS)

• An LTS release is a special release that receives maintenance support for an extended period. 
  

SDK Extended Maintenance Service (SEMS)

• SEMS enables customers to extend maintenance of specific SDK releases.  See our SEMS page for details.

¹Check the release notes for the latest patch for complete list of devices supported
²GSDK 4.4 LTS will extend GSDK 4.4 maintenance support for active Series 0 and 1 devices
³Series 3 support to be added to the latest Simplicity SDK release when publicly available

Support Policy FAQs
 

What does support mean?

A supported SDK is one that is eligible for technical support from Silicon Labs, and eligible for software patches to fix issues. Technical questions on Silicon Labs hardware and software products are supported via our support forums.
 

How often are patches released?

There is no set schedule for patches. Patches for the active SDK release (the most recent major.minor release) may include (at our discretion) fixes for any level of issue and are likely to happen more often than patches for older releases. Patches will be made available as issues are discovered, assessed, and resolved.
 

What is a high-impact issue?

High-impact issues include critical and blocker level bugs and security vulnerabilities.  The level of the issue is determined by Silicon Labs based on the severity and impact to our customers and their products.  Our intention is to balance the needs of all customers while providing high-quality, stable releases.
 

I think I found an issue. How do I report it?

First, check the Release Notes for your software to see if it is a known issue. Next, search for solutions or report an issue in our support forums.
 

What happens to a release after the maintenance end date?

Free support is offered until the maintenance end date. Silicon Labs also offers an SDK Extended Maintenance Service (SEMS). SEMS enables customers to extend maintenance of specific SDK releases.  See our SDK Extended Maintenance Service page for details.

SDK FAQs
 

What is Simplicity SDK? Why is there a new SDK?

Simplicity SDK is an embedded software development platform for building IoT products based on Series 2 and upcoming Series 3 wireless and MCU devices. It integrates wireless protocol stacks, middleware, peripheral drivers, a bootloader, and application examples – a production-quality framework for building power-optimized and secure IoT devices.

Simplicity SDK is a follow-on to the widely-adopted Gecko SDK.  Simplicity SDK 2024.6 is very similar to Gecko SDK v4.x, building on top of the same platform with a very similar overall structure and architecture.

As Series 2 and Series 3 devices and wireless technology continues to evolve, so will the software support that Silicon Labs provides. Simplicity SDK will include development of new features supported only on Series 2 and 3 devices. Gecko SDK is a mature product that will be the long-term support option for Series 0 and 1 devices. Learn more information on device families and series.
 

Now that Simplicity SDK is available, will Gecko SDK still be supported?

Yes. While there are no new releases planned for Gecko SDK, there are several releases in maintenance that are eligible for patches to high-impact issues. Gecko SDK 4.4 will also be the long-term support option for Series 0 and 1 devices.
 

What is the GSDK 4.4 LTS? When will maintenance end for this release?

Silicon Labs is committed to provide supported and maintained software for active hardware products. GSDK 4.4 LTS is a long-term support release for Series 0 and Series 1 devices that are not enabled by Simplicity SDK. Maintenance period for the 4.4 LTS is not yet determined but our intention is to extend the maintenance date to cover devices that are still in an active state (e.g. not NRND or EOL).
 

Will Gecko SDK continue to support Series 2 devices?

Yes, enablement for Series 2 devices in supported Gecko SDK releases will continue to be eligible for patches, but not new features. New features for Series 2 (and upcoming Series 3) devices will be added to Simplicity SDK releases going forward.  Customers who need the latest features for Series 2 devices are expect to start with or migrate to the latest Simplicity SDK release. 

What if my design is based on Series 1 (EFR32xG1x)?

• You can continue using GSDK 4.4.x, as maintenance shall be provided through June-2025.
• You will then need to migrate to 4.4.x LTS for our long-term support and maintenance free of charge.
• • Maintenance will continue so long as EFR32xG1x devices are recommended for new designs.
  • This support will only provide critical bug fixes as categorized by Silicon Labs as we do today.
• If you choose not to move to 4.4.x LTS, you can request a SEMS agreement to extend maintenance terms which has an associated fee.

What if my design is based on Series 2 (EFR32xG2x) and firmware uses the Gecko SDK?

• You may continue using GSDK 4.4.x, as maintenance shall be provided through June-2025.
• You will then need to migrate to our Simplicity SDK releases for new features, capabilities and continued support.
• If you choose to stay on GSDK 4.4.x for Series 2 you can request a SEMS agreement to extend maintenance terms which has an associated fee. This support will only provide critical bug fixes as categorized by Silicon Labs.

What if my design is based on Series 2 (EFR32xG2x) and firmware uses the Simplicity SDK?

• You are using our latest SDK and will continue to have access to our latest devices, features, fixes and improvements.
• Each release shall be supported for 18 months free of charge.
• Once the maintenance expires, you will need to migrate to the latest release of the Simplicity SDK.
• If you choose not to move to the latest Simplicity SDK release, you can request a a SEMS agreement to extend maintenance terms which has an associated fee. This support will only provide critical bug fixes as categorized by Silicon Labs.