When optimizing ROS performance with version management, one of the first steps is to choose and use the right ROS version for your project. These versions are also known as distributions and are named after animals, such as Kinetic Kame, Melodic Morenia, or Noetic Ninjemys. Each ROS distribution has a different set of features, packages, and support, so you need to consider the compatibility with your hardware and software requirements, the stability and maturity of the ROS distribution, and the availability and quality of the documentation, tutorials, and community support when making your selection. Additionally, the official ROS website provides more information about the different ROS distributions and their status. Furthermore, tools such as rosinstall or rosdep can be used to install and update the ROS packages and dependencies that are necessary for your project.