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ROS 2 Version Compatibility Guide

Target Version​

Module 1 content is developed and tested with ROS 2 Humble Hawksbill (LTS)

  • Release Date: May 2022
  • Support Until: May 2027
  • Ubuntu Version: 22.04 (Jammy Jellyfish)

Compatibility with Other ROS 2 Versions​

✅ Compatible Versions​

The Module 1 lessons use core ROS 2 features that are available across all major ROS 2 distributions. The content should work with:

  • ROS 2 Humble (LTS) - Recommended ✅
  • ROS 2 Iron (Non-LTS, May 2023 - Nov 2024)
  • ROS 2 Jazzy (LTS, May 2024 - May 2029)
  • ROS 2 Rolling (Latest development)

Key Features Used (Version-Agnostic)​

All lessons use standard ROS 2 APIs that have been stable since Foxy:

  • Python Client Library (rclpy): Standard node creation, publishers, subscribers
  • Topics: Publish-subscribe communication pattern
  • Services: Synchronous request-response
  • Actions: Asynchronous goal-feedback-result pattern
  • Launch Files: Python launch system
  • Parameters: Dynamic configuration
  • URDF: Robot description format
  • Packages: colcon build system

No Version-Specific Features​

Module 1 does not use any Humble-specific features, experimental APIs, or deprecated functionality. All code examples follow ROS 2 best practices that work across distributions.

Migration from Older Versions​

From ROS 2 Foxy (LTS, EOL June 2023)​

Changes Needed: Minimal to none

  • All Module 1 code examples should work without modification
  • Package dependencies remain the same
  • Launch file syntax is compatible

Action Required: Update your system to a supported LTS version (Humble or Jazzy)

From ROS 2 Galactic (EOL December 2022)​

Changes Needed: None for Module 1 content

  • Core APIs are identical
  • Code examples compatible

Action Required: Upgrade to Humble or newer

Using with Newer Versions (Iron, Jazzy, Rolling)​

Expected Behavior​

Module 1 code examples should run without modification on:

  • ROS 2 Iron (Non-LTS)
  • ROS 2 Jazzy (LTS)
  • ROS 2 Rolling

Potential Differences​

While the core functionality is identical, newer versions may have:

  1. Performance improvements - Faster message passing, reduced latency
  2. Additional features - New parameters, enhanced debugging tools
  3. Deprecated warnings - Older APIs may show deprecation notices (but still work)

If You Encounter Issues​

If you experience problems with Module 1 content on a newer ROS 2 version:

  1. Check the ROS 2 release notes for breaking changes
  2. Verify your package dependencies in package.xml
  3. Ensure you've sourced the correct ROS 2 installation: 
    source /opt/ros/<distro>/setup.bash
  4. Report issues in the course repository

Platform Compatibility​

Supported Platforms​

  • Ubuntu 22.04 (Jammy) - Recommended for Humble ✅
  • Ubuntu 24.04 (Noble) - Use with Jazzy
  • Windows 10/11 - Via WSL2 (Ubuntu 22.04)
  • macOS - Via Docker container

Notes for WSL2 (Windows)​

All Module 1 lessons work in WSL2 with Ubuntu 22.04. GUI tools (RViz2) require:

  • WSLg (Windows 11 with WSL2)
  • X11 forwarding (Windows 10)

Notes for Docker​

When using Docker:

  • Use official ROS 2 Docker images: ros:humble or ros:jazzy
  • Mount your workspace as a volume
  • Enable GUI forwarding for RViz2

Verification​

To verify your ROS 2 installation is compatible:

# Check ROS 2 version
echo $ROS_DISTRO

# Verify core packages
ros2 pkg list | grep demo_nodes
ros2 pkg list | grep turtlesim

# Test basic functionality
ros2 run demo_nodes_py talker

Expected output:

humble  # or iron, jazzy, rolling

Summary​

Bottom Line: Module 1 uses stable, core ROS 2 features. While developed for Humble, the content is compatible with other ROS 2 distributions without modification.

Recommendation: Use ROS 2 Humble (LTS) or Jazzy (LTS) for long-term support and stability.

Additional Resources​