Java Edition version history

A (?) denotes version's info here is guess work, possibly incorrect.

0.24 - had an annoying bug where you could kill a person just by pushing him left over from survival mode

0.29_02

0.30 - included new anti-WoM security

Alpha
0.24_SURVIVAL_TEST

0.24_SURVIVAL_TEST_03

0.25_05 SURVIVAL TEST

0.27 SURVIVAL TEST

0.28_01

0.30

Indev
0.31
 * 0.24 - Faster rendering, mobs and player jump back when taking damage, Creeper mobs, mushrooms regain health, arrows, enemies fall over when killed.
 * 0.24 - Players arm appears when nothing selected, blocks and arm swimp when mouse pressed, mobs take damage, harsher falling damage,
 * 0.24 - New level generator, more cliffs, longer and narrower caves, flowers and mushrooms, spawned on map, surface lava possible but unlikely, bigger caves the deeper you go, viewport bobbing, currently selected block shows up in view, leaves drop saplings, saplings grow into trees, mobs spawn in groups, mobs and player can push each other around, breaking wood drops 3-5 plank blocks, can hold breath underwater up to 15 seconds, lava damage.
 * 0.24 - Pig mobs.
 * 0.24 - Droppable signs with preset text, health bar blinks when damage recieved, after being hit invulnerable for a few seconds, low health makes bar shake.
 * 0.24 - Health bar, fall damage
 * 0.24 - Zombie mob, Skeleton mob, each with random armor, mouse button held down to break blocks (cracks cover the sruface until it busts), gathering resources has a animation of block bobbing up,
 * 0.24 - 3d analglyph mode test, mob armor test.
 * 0.24 - Resource management, start with nothing, breaking blocks allows you to pick them up and place them, thus adding and removing from inventory.
 * 0.0.23a_01 - version system changed, now 0.23_1
 * 0.0.23a - Clicking a players name under the tab menu pastes their nick into chat, new button graphics, options page, custom keymappings.
 * 0.0.22 - Ogg vorbis multiple sounds for blocks. (?)
 * 0.0.21a_01 - Hang bug fix.
 * 0.0.21 - "Hang bug" cause determined.
 * 0.0.20a_2 - Better fps, players able to break bedrock bug fixed. (?)
 * 0.0.20 - /solid command makes Bedrock, only admins can break bedrock, 16 colored Cloth blocks, Flower blocks, Mushroom blocks, Gold block, player inventory can be accessed by pressing B (lists all blocks and can pick which go into the box at the bottom).
 * 0.0.19a_06 - Sponges don't decay, new glass texture (?).
 * 0.0.19a - Sponge and glass released, animated Water and Lava textures, better ui, limited frame rate, better player avatars
 * 0.0.18a_02 - Glass and Sponge test. (?)
 * 0.0.18a_02 - Unstable fps problem fixed, made font differentiate "l" and "I" and characters for "|", "@", "$", made "{" render correctly.
 * 0.0.18a - Custom skins released. (?)
 * 0.0.17a - Custom player skin test.
 * 0.0.17a - /setspawn command, banip command fixed, server flood exploit prevention, chatlog when typing, list logged in players when [Tab] is pressed, no level generation or loading.
 * 0.0.16a_2 - /broadcast command changed to /say. (?)
 * 0.0.16a(?) - Multiplayer released.
 * 0.0.15a - Multiplayer - Admin commands, reduced bandwith usage, other minor bug fixes.
 * 0.0.15a - Multiplayer - Players name shows above their head, chat added.
 * 0.0.15a - Multiplayer test.
 * 0.0.15a - Leaves have new texture, trees have new shape.
 * 0.0.14a_08 - C418's sound test
 * 0.0.14a_04 - Spawn point saving and reloading.
 * 0.0.14a - Scrollwheel block picking support, mobs saved in level data.
 * 0.0.14a - Random offset test (feature not implemented in final version).
 * 0.0.14a - Huge levels, faster water flowing.
 * 0.0.14a - Sand, Gravel, Gold ore, Iron ore, Coal ore, trees (made up of Trunk and Leaves), Clouds, controller support.
 * 0.0.13a_03 - Sapling added. (?)
 * 0.0.13a_02 - Level saving for players with accounts. (?)
 * 0.0.13a - ?
 * 0.0.12a_03 - Fixed bug where some players had trouble selecting tiles.
 * 0.0.12a_02 - Game runs "smoother than ever".
 * 0.0.12a_01 - "Resetting mobs on level restart. There’s no way of killing the mobs now." unknown meaning
 * 0.0.12a - New level generator, Water and Lava created, fog distance option, ocean around map.
 * 0.0.11a - First single player creative mode release, stability increase.
 * 0.0.9a - First named version (?)
 * Pre 0.0.9a - Simple level generator, support for different block types, block particles, support for dynamic tiles, grass made to live on dirt under light
 * Pre 0.0.9a - Human mobs, block picking, placing and destroying, Dirt, Planks and Cobblestone created, the name "Minecraft" chosen (?)
 * Pre 0.0.9a - Physics created, Stone and Grass created