Wikipedia:Stable versions proposal

Introduction
Identification of stable versions of articles is a process by which particular versions of Wikipedia articles are identified as accurate and reliable. Stable versions are worthy to be relied upon. Stable versions complement but do not replace the current system of developmental wikis. The single most important distinguishing factor is that the identified version has been checked by editors to meet a standard of quality. Stable articles are not final, but rather indicate a consensus that a particular version of an article meets a standard as judged by those marking it as stable.

Making stable versions is part of the maturation of an article through its lifecycle, preceded by others such as creation, stub, expansion, through to attention, verification, peer review, good article, and finally featured article status.

Criteria
A stable article...
 * meet the criteria of good articles
 * follow accessibility guidelines (print versions, alt images, W3C standards valid etc.)
 * has no unresolved feedback comments
 * has not red links
 * can have spoken version, which will be always actual

Note however that the good article criterion regarding pre-emptive "stability" is moot, while the stable versions system picks a version that will be stable throughout the nomination procedure. If, however, the article is unstable due to strong opposing views for which a NPOV formulation has not yet been found, it is unlikely the article will get through the stable versions procedure.

Procedure for nomination

 * 1) Choose a particular version of the article with an oldid that is deemed Stable
 * 2) Use Nomstable to nominate a version of an article on the talk page of the stable article with 2 parameters of the article name and the oldid with your signature, e.g.  -- ~ 
 * 3) Place Reqstable adjacent to the nomination to announce an active stable version nomination. The talk page is automatically categorised into Category:Wikipedia stable version requests.
 * 4) Individuals including the nominator sign their support or opposition with ' or ' with a signature and optionally with their reasons.
 * 5) Administrators check the nomination for validity and determine the outcome and the Reqstable notice is removed.
 * 6) A successful nomination is copied to or supplants the empty or existing stable version article page and is protected. The oldid is quoted in the edit summary. Templates within the stable version are subst'ed.

Templates

 * — text to nominate a stable version
 * — placed adjacent to a request to declare a stable version nomination; typically on the talk page of the stable version article that is categorised into Category:Wikipedia stable version requests.
 * — to support the certification a nominated stable version.
 * — to object the certification of a nominated stable version.
 * – placed on the wiki version of the article to advertise its stable version.
 * – placed on Talk page of articles considered necessary for a stable version.

Current nominations

 * Wikipedia/Stable (Wikipedia)
 * Early life of Joseph Smith, Jr./Stable (Early life of Joseph Smith, Jr.)

Print versions
Print versions is a process by which particular versions of articles that are identified as good enough for print. They are nearly identical to stable versions but for a different purpose. The reasoning is if it is good enough for print by investing in its costs, then it should be good enough to be reliable and accurate. The English Wikipedia is the largest wiki in the world with cohesive content that is a great candidate for print. Examples of associated projects that mutually benefit from this are WikiReader, Vital articles and WikiProjects such as WikiProject Mathematics.

Print versions are liable to manifest print editions of Wikipedia that are of different set of general topics such as an edition for Vital articles or an edition for high school mathematics. The goal is to sell these print editions in stores, including both brick-and-mortar storefronts (eventually) as well as online retailers, such as Amazon.com. We as a community of Wikipedians have a profit motive for this program to direct the revenue towards the maintenance of Wikipedia.