def _version_newer_than(self, vers):
        """
        Determine whether the version is greater than some given version
        """
        v = self.version(self.executable())
        vers_num = v[:v.index('-')]
        if not vers_num[0].isdigit():
            # this is the old version which is "older" than any given version
            return False

        v1 = list(map(int, vers_num.split('.')))
        v2 = list(map(int, vers.split('.')))
        assert len(v1) == 3
        assert len(v2) == 3

        if v1[0] > v2[0]:
            return True
        elif v1[0] == v2[0]:
            if v1[1] == v2[1]:
                return v1[2] >= v2[2]
            elif v1[1] > v2[1]:
                return True

        return False
Determine whether the version is greater than some given version