Using rc for release candidates is pretty standard. A lot of times they would have 18.1b1, 18.2b2, etc. for betas, the when they are close to releasing, it would become 18.1rc1, 18.1rc2, etc. And once no one finds any more issues with your release candidates, you rename it 18.1 and you are done.
Using rc for release candidates is pretty standard. A lot of times they would have 18.1b1, 18.2b2, etc. for betas, the when they are close to releasing, it would become 18.1rc1, 18.1rc2, etc. And once no one finds any more issues with your release candidates, you rename it 18.1 and you are done.