diff --git a/version.py b/version.py
index c42dca55ab..51ce93afb2 100644
--- a/version.py
+++ b/version.py
@@ -1,3 +1,11 @@
 ZULIP_VERSION = "1.7.1+git"
 
+# Bump the minor PROVISION_VERSION to indicate that folks should provision
+# only when going from an old version of the code to a newer version. Bump
+# the major version to indicate that folks should provision in both
+# directions.
+
+# Typically, adding a dependency only requires a minor version bump, and
+# removing a dependency requires a major version bump.
+
 PROVISION_VERSION = '14.3'