Runtime Version Check
A systematic process for researching and verifying the latest versions of programming language runtimes. This skill prioritizes accuracy over speed.
When to Use This Skill
Use this skill when the user:
- Asks about the latest version of a programming runtime
- Needs to verify current runtime versions for upgrades
- Wants a comprehensive overview of runtime versions
- Asks to check if their runtime versions are up to date
Supported Runtimes & Authoritative Sources
Process
Phase 1: Initial Research (Web Search)
Use web searches to gather initial version information and context. This provides:
- Recent release announcements
- Changelog highlights
- Upcoming version information
- General context about the runtime
Search query pattern: "<runtime> latest version release <current_year>"
Example searches:
Bun runtime latest version release 2026
Go golang latest version release 2026
.NET dotnet latest version release 2026
Important: Treat all information from Phase 1 as UNVERIFIED. Do not use these versions in the final output without Phase 2 verification.
Phase 2: Direct Source Verification (REQUIRED)
For EACH runtime, fetch the authoritative source directly using WebFetch. This is the critical step that ensures accuracy.
Verification Commands
Run these WebFetch calls to verify each runtime:
JavaScript/TypeScript Runtimes:
WebFetch: https://github.com/oven-sh/bun/releases- Prompt: "What is the latest release version number and date?"WebFetch: https://github.com/denoland/deno/releases- Prompt: "What is the latest release version number and date?"WebFetch: https://github.com/nodejs/node/releases- Prompt: "What is the latest release version number and date?"
Systems Languages:
WebFetch: https://go.dev/dl/- Prompt: "What is the latest stable Go version available for download?"WebFetch: https://github.com/ruby/ruby/releases- Prompt: "What is the latest release version number and date?"WebFetch: https://github.com/swiftlang/swift/releases- Prompt: "What is the latest release version number and date?"
JVM Languages:
WebFetch: https://www.oracle.com/java/technologies/downloads/- Prompt: "What is the latest Java JDK version available for download?"WebFetch: https://github.com/JetBrains/kotlin/releases- Prompt: "What is the latest stable release version number and date?"
Web/Scripting Languages:
WebFetch: https://github.com/php/php-src/releases- Prompt: "What is the latest release version number and date?"WebFetch: https://www.python.org/downloads/- Prompt: "What is the latest stable Python version available for download?"
Mobile/Cross-Platform:
WebFetch: https://docs.flutter.dev/release/release-notes- Prompt: "What is the latest stable Flutter version?"WebFetch: https://dart.dev/get-dart/archive- Prompt: "What is the latest stable Dart SDK version listed?"
Framework/Platform:
WebFetch: https://dotnet.microsoft.com/en-us/download/dotnet- Prompt: "What is the latest .NET version available?"
Standards (not runtime):
WebFetch: https://isocpp.org/std/status- Prompt: "What is the current C++ standard and what is the upcoming standard?"
Phase 3: Cross-Reference Discrepancies
If Phase 1 (web search) and Phase 2 (direct fetch) show different versions:
- Always trust Phase 2 (direct source)
- Document the discrepancy for awareness
- The web search version is likely cached/outdated
Common discrepancy patterns:
- Patch versions differ (e.g., 1.3.7 vs 1.3.8) - releases happened between search index updates
- Minor versions differ - search results are significantly outdated
- Major versions differ - search results are severely outdated, investigate further
Phase 4: Compile Results
Create the output with:
- Summary table - Quick reference with version, date, and notes
- Detailed sections - Per-runtime information including:
- Exact version number
- Release date (if available)
- Key highlights/features
- Upcoming releases
- Link to authoritative source
- Verification sources table - List all primary sources for future reference
Output Template
# Latest Runtime Versions
*Last updated: <date>*
*Verified from official GitHub releases and download pages*
| Runtime | Latest Version | Release Date | Notes |
|---------|---------------|--------------|-------|
| **Bun** | x.x.x | <date> | <notes> |
...
---
## Detailed Information
### <Runtime>
- **Version:** x.x.x
- **Release Date:** <date>
- **Highlights:** <features>
- **Upcoming:** <next version info>
- **Source:** [<source name>](<url>)
...
---
## Verification Sources
| Runtime | Primary Source |
|---------|---------------|
| Bun | https://github.com/oven-sh/bun/releases |
...
Troubleshooting
GitHub says "There aren't any releases here"
Some projects don't use GitHub Releases. Try:
- Check the
/tagspage instead of/releases - Use the official website download page
- Check the project's CHANGELOG.md file
Known projects without GitHub Releases:
- Go (golang/go) - Use https://go.dev/dl/
- Python (python/cpython) - Use https://www.python.org/downloads/
- Dart (dart-lang/sdk) - Use https://dart.dev/get-dart/archive
- Flutter - Use https://docs.flutter.dev/release/release-notes
Version shows as "calculating" or dynamic
Some pages load versions via JavaScript. Try:
- Check the archive/downloads page instead
- Look for version mentioned in page footer ("reflects version X.X.X")
- Use the GitHub releases/tags as backup
Multiple version tracks (LTS vs Current)
Document both when relevant:
- Current/Latest: The newest version with latest features
- LTS (Long Term Support): Stable version recommended for production
Example runtimes with dual tracks:
- Node.js (Current + LTS)
- .NET (STS + LTS)
- Java (Latest + LTS)
Execution Notes
- Parallel execution: Phase 1 searches and Phase 2 fetches can run in parallel batches (7 at a time is reasonable)
- Freshness: Runtime versions can change daily for active projects. Always re-verify if accuracy is critical.
- C++ is special: C++ is a standard, not a runtime. Report the current ISO standard (e.g., C++23) and upcoming standard (e.g., C++26).
- Patch versions matter: Don't round versions. 8.5.1 is different from 8.5.0.
Source: open-runtimes/open-runtimes — distributed by TomeVault.