Version number question

[Peter S Galbraith <GalbraithP@dfo-mpo.gc.ca>]

I'm packaging a snapshot of XTide, version 2.2dev dated
1999/10/17.  The date matters because the dev version may change
without changing version number before 2.2 is released.  

I can't call it xtide_2.2dev19991017-1 because upgrades won't work when I
later package xtide_2.2-1 (unless I use epochs then).

I wish the default epoch was `1', that way I could use `0' now
and it would work.

What's the best I can do?

  xtide_2.1.99dev19991017-1

e.g 2.1.99 < 2.2

Any better ideas?

Thanks again (3rd question today!)

Peter