Sorting versions of software instances on computing devices in a network

A method comprising:

• receiving an instruction to execute an operation on a target set of software instances with corresponding version number values that meet a particular criteria, wherein the particular criteria defines a first numerical criterion and a non-numerical criterion;
• applying a standardization function to a numerical version number specified by the first numerical criterion to determine a second numerical criterion specifying a target standardized numerical version number;
• accessing a plurality of version number values corresponding respectively to a plurality of software instances;
• applying the standardization function to numerical version numbers specified by the plurality of version number values to determine standardized numerical version numbers associated with the plurality of version number values;
• filtering the plurality of version number values based on the second numerical criterion and the non-numerical criterion to determine a target set of the plurality of version number values that meet the second numerical criterion and the non-numerical criterion,
• wherein version number values, of the plurality of version number values, with (a) associated standardized numerical version numbers that meet the second numerical criterion and (b) non-numerical components that meet the non-numerical criterion are included in the target set of the plurality of version number values;
• including software instances, of the plurality of software instances, that are associated with one of the target set of the plurality of version number values in the target set of software instances;
• and
• executing the operation on the target set of software instances,
• wherein the method is performed by at least one device including a hardware processor.

A system comprising:

• at least one device including a hardware processor;
• the system being configured to perform operations comprising:
• receiving an instruction to execute an operation on a target set of software instances with corresponding version number values that meet a particular criteria, wherein the particular criteria defines a first numerical criterion and a non-numerical criterion;
• applying a standardization function to a numerical version number specified by the first numerical criterion to determine a second numerical criterion specifying a target standardized numerical version number;
• accessing a plurality of version number values corresponding respectively to a plurality of software instances;
• applying the standardization function to numerical version numbers specified by the plurality of version number values to determine standardized numerical version numbers associated with the plurality of version number values;
• filtering the plurality of version number values based on the second numerical criterion and the non-numerical criterion to determine a target set of the plurality of version number values that meet the second numerical criterion and the non-numerical criterion,
• wherein version number values, of the plurality of version number values, with (a) associated standardized numerical version numbers that meet the second numerical criterion and (b) non-numerical components that meet the non-numerical criterion are included in the target set of the plurality of version number values;
• including software instances, of the plurality of software instances, that are associated with one of the target set of the plurality of version number values in the target set of software instances;
• and
• executing the operation on the target set of software instances.