Re: m4_version_compare and new version numbering

[Jim Meyering]

Andreas Schwab <address@hidden> wrote:
> Jim Meyering <address@hidden> writes:
>
>> Anyone know why git adds the 'g' prefix to the SHA1 in git-describe?
>
> Probably because it's not a number?

Right.  That's obvious, and implied above (in the part you elided).

I want to know the motivation.  I.e., if there are tools that mishandle
a component that starts with a digit but contains non-digits, then using
all '.'s is no longer a question of appearances;  it's a necessity.