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This document describes the processes for making and announcing a Bazaar
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release, and managing the release process. This is just one phase of the
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`overall development cycle <http://doc.bazaar-vcs.org/developers/cycle.html>`_,
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but it's the most complex part.
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This document gives a checklist you can follow from start to end in one
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release, and managing the release process. This is just one phase of
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the `overall development cycle
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<http://doc.bazaar.canonical.com/developers/cycle.html>`_, (go re-read
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this document to ensure it hasn't been updated) but it's the most
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complex part. This document gives a checklist you can follow from start
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If you're helping the Release Manager (RM) for one reason or another, you
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may notice that he didn't follow that document scrupulously. He may have
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#. Download the pqm plugin and install it into your ``~/.bazaar/plugins``::
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bzr branch lp:bzr-pqm ~/.bazaar/plugins/pqm
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As of October 2010, we mantain four series. Concurrently releasing them
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all at the same time makes it harder to shorten the delay between the
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source availability and the package building longer than necessary (we
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delay the official announcement until most of our users can install the new
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In order to continue to do time-based releases, we need to plan the
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releases by series to minimize the collisions. In the end, it's the Release
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Manager call to decide whether he prefers to do all releases at once
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though, so the rules presented here are a conservative approach.
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We want to respect the following rules::
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#. as much as possible releases should not disturb development, and
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ongoing development should not disturb releases,
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#. the most recent development series should release once a month during
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the beta period (see `Development cycles <cycle.html>`_ for more
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#. the most recent stable series should release every other month (based
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on the amount of bug fixes, this can be shorter or longer depending on
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#. previous series should relesase on a regular basis without interfering
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with the most recent series with a decreasing order of priority (again
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this should be based on bugs importance and user feedback),
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#. the death of a series should be planned ahead of time. 6 months should
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give enough time to our users to migrate to a more recent series. This
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doesn't mean we will make a release at the end of the series, just that
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before the end date we _could_ possibly put out another release if
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there was a sufficiently important fix. Beyond that date, we won't
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even land changes on that branch (unless something causes a miraculous
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#. there should not be more than 2 releases in the same week (but the
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Release Manager is free to ignore this (get in touch with packagers
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#. the series are aligned with Ubuntu releases for convenience since we
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create a new series every 6 months. This means that we support the
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stable series for 18 months. Note that we also propose the most recent
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stable series via the ppa, so whether we keep supporting LTS directly
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or via the ppa is still an open question.
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At the start of a release cycle
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===============================
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To start a new release cycle:
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#. Create a new series at <https://launchpad.net/bzr/+addseries>. There is one
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series for every *x.y* release.
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#. Go to the series web page at <https://launchpad.net/bzr/x.y>
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#. Create a new release at
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<https://launchpad.net/bzr/x.y/+addrelease> and add
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information about this release. We will not use it yet, but it
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#. If this is the first release for a given *x.y* then create a new
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series at <https://launchpad.net/bzr/+addseries>. There is one series
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for every *x.y* release.
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#. If you made a new series, create a new pqm-controlled branch for this
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release series, by asking a Canonical sysadmin. This branch means that
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from the first release beta or candidate onwards, general development
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continues on the trunk, and only specifically-targeted fixes go into
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#. If you made a new series, add milestones at
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<https://edge.launchpad.net/bzr/x.y/+addmilestone> to that series for
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the beta release, release candidate and the final release, and their
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#. Create a new milestone <https://edge.launchpad.net/bzr/x.y/+addmilestone>
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and add information about this release. We will not use it yet, but it
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will be available for targeting or nominating bugs.
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#. We create a new pqm-controlled branch for this release series, by
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asking a Canonical sysadmin.
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This branch means that from the first release beta or candidate onwards,
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general development continues on the trunk, and only
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specifically-targeted fixes go into the release branch.
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#. Add milestones at <https://edge.launchpad.net/bzr/x.y/+addmilestone> to
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that series for the beta release, release candidate and the final release,
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and their expected dates.
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#. Update the version number in the ``bzr`` script, and the
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``bzrlib/__init__.py`` file. Make sure there is always a corresponding
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milestone when you change that version number.
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#. Add a new section at the top of ``NEWS`` about the new release,
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including its version number and the headings from
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``NEWS-template.txt``.
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#. Send mail to the list with the key dates, who will be the release
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manager, and the main themes or targeted bugs. Ask people to nominate
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objectives, or point out any high-risk things that are best done early,
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submit_to = bazaar@lists.canonical.com
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smtp_server = mail.example.com:25
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Please see <http://doc.bazaar-vcs.org/developers/HACKING.html#an-overview-of-pqm>
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Please see <http://doc.bazaar.canonical.com/developers/HACKING.html#an-overview-of-pqm>
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for more details on PQM
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#. Update the version number in the ``bzr`` script, and the
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``bzrlib/__init__.py`` file::
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version_info = (x, y, z, 'dev', 0)
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#. If you made a new series, then start a new release-notes file::
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cd doc/en/release-notes
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cp series-template.txt bzr-x.y.txt # e.g. bzr-2.3.txt
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#. Add a new section at the top of the current release notes (in
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``doc/en/release-notes``) about the new release, including its version
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number and the headings from ``release-template.txt``.
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#. Update the "What's New" documents in ``doc/en/whats-new``.
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#. Commit this and send it to PQM.
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Doing a particular release
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==========================
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Update the source code
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----------------------
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#. Check that there is a milestone for the release you're doing. If there
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is no milestone it indicates a process problem - make the milestone but
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also mail the list to raise this issue in our process. Milestones are
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found at <https://launchpad.net/bzr/+milestone/x.y.z>.
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#. In the release branch, update ``version_info`` in ``./bzrlib/__init__.py``.
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Make sure the corresponding milestone exists.
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Double check that ./bzr ``_script_version`` matches ``version_info``. Check
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For beta releases use::
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version_info = (2, 1, 0, 'beta', SERIAL)
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version_info = (2, 1, 0, 'beta', 1)
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For release candidates use::
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version_info = (2, 0, 1, 'candidate', 1)
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Starting the release phase
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--------------------------
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#. Create a new milestone at <https://launchpad.net/bzr/x.y/+addmilestone>
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for the beta release or release candidate if you haven't already.
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#. Add the date and release number to ``./NEWS``
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Depending on whether you're doing a beta or a bugfix release, you'll
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have to create a NEWS section for your release in the right
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place. Most of the time, the new section is at the top of the file
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(look what have been done for the various 2.0x and 2.1.0bx releases).
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The rule is to keep the sections sorted by date. You'll need to be
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cautious when merging back to trunk to respect that.
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#. To check that all bugs mentioned in ``./NEWS`` are actually marked as
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closed in Launchpad, you can run ``tools/check-newsbugs.py``::
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./tools/check-newsbugs.py NEWS
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(But note there can be some false positives, and this script may be
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version_info = (2, 0, 1, 'candidate', SERIAL)
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For stable releases use::
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version_info = (2, 1, 2, 'final', 0)
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#. Update the ``./doc/en/release-notes/`` section for this release.
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Fill out the date and a description of the release under the existing
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header. If there isn't one, follow the instructions above for using the
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``release-template.txt`` file.
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See *2.1.1* or similar for an example of what this looks like.
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#. Add a summary of the release into the "What's New" document.
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#. To check that all bugs mentioned in the release notes are actually
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marked as closed in Launchpad, you can run
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``tools/check-newsbugs.py``::
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./tools/check-newsbugs.py doc/en/release-notes/bzr-x.y.txt
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(But note there will be many false positives, and this script may be
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flaky <https://bugs.edge.launchpad.net/bzr/+bug/354985>. Don't let
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this slow you down too much.)
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#. Summarize into one or two paragraphs what's new in this release.
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#. Commit these changes to the release branch, using a command like::
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bzr commit -m "Release 1.14."
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disable the faulty plugins one by one until you get no more
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Remember that PQM has just tested everything too, this step is
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particularly testing that the pyrex extensions, which are updated
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by your local pyrex version when you run make dist, are in good
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Publishing the source tarball
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-----------------------------
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#. Go to the relevant milestone page in Launchpad.
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#. Within that release, upload the source tarball and the GPG
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signature. Or, if you prefer, use the
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``tools/packaging/lp-upload-release`` script to do this.
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#. Create a release of the milestone, and upload the source tarball and
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the GPG signature. Or, if you prefer, use the
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``tools/packaging/lp-upload-release`` script to do this. Note that
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this changes what the download widget on the Launchpad bzr home
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page shows, so don't stop the release process yet, or platform binary
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installers won't be made and the download list will stay very small!
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<https://bugs.launchpad.net/launchpad/+bug/586445>
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Announcing the source freeze
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----------------------------
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#. Post to the ``bazaar`` list, saying that the source has been frozen.
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This is the cue for platform maintainers and plugin authors to update
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their code. This is done before the general public announcement of the
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#. Post to the ``bazaar`` list, saying that the source has been frozen
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(gone gold). Be extra clear that this is only a *source* release
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targeted at packagers and installer builders (see
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<https://bugs.launchpad.net/launchpad/+bug/645084>). This is the cue
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for platform maintainers and plugin authors to update their code. This
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is done before the general public announcement of the release.
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Kick off the next cycle
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-----------------------
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#. To let developers work on the next release, do
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`At the start of a release cycle` now.
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#. Pause for a few days.
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Publishing the release
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we have a releasable product. The next step is to make it generally
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available to the world.
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#. Within that release, upload the source tarball and zipfile and the GPG
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signature. Or, if you prefer, use the
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``tools/packaging/lp-upload-release`` script to do this.
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#. Link from http://bazaar-vcs.org/SourceDownloads to the tarball and
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#. Announce on the `Bazaar website <http://bazaar-vcs.org/>`_.
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#. Go to the release web page at <https://launchpad.net/bzr/x.y/x.y.z>
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#. Announce on the `Bazaar website <http://bazaar.canonical.com/>`_.
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This page is edited via the lp:bzr-website branch. (Changes
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pushed to this branch are refreshed by a cron job on escudero.)
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#. Announce on the `Bazaar wiki <http://bazaar-vcs.org/Welcome>`_.
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#. Check that the documentation for this release is available in
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<http://doc.bazaar-vcs.org>. It should be automatically build when the
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<http://doc.bazaar.canonical.com>. It should be automatically build when the
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branch is created, by a cron script ``update-bzr-docs`` on
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``escudero``. As of today (2009-08-27) ``igc`` manually updates the
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pretty version of it.
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The announce mail will look something like this::
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Subject: bzr x.yy released!
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<<Summary paragraph from news>>
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Subject: bzr x.y.z released!
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The Bazaar team is happy to announce availability of a new
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release of the bzr adaptive version control system.
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Bazaar is part of the GNU system <http://gnu.org/>.
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<<Summary paragraph from news>>
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Thanks to everyone who contributed patches, suggestions, and
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Bazaar is now available for download from
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http://bazaar-vcs.org/Download as a source tarball; packages
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https://launchpad.net/bzr/2.x/2.x/ as a source tarball; packages
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for various systems will be available soon.
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<<NEWS section from this release back to the last major release>>
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<<release notes from this release back to the last major release>>
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Feel free to tweak this to your taste.
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Merging the released code back to trunk
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---------------------------------------
321
Merge the release branch back into the trunk. Check that changes in NEWS
322
were merged into the right sections. If it's not already done, advance
323
the version number in ``bzr`` and ``bzrlib/__init__.py``. Submit this
324
back into pqm for bzr.dev.
414
Merge the release branch back into the trunk. The
415
``doc/en/release-notes`` changes should be merged into the right place
416
because each release series has its own release-notes file, but
419
If it's not already done, advance the version number in ``bzr`` and
420
``bzrlib/__init__.py``. Submit this back into pqm for bzr.dev.
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422
As soon as you change the version number in trunk, make sure you have
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423
created the corresponding milestone to ensure the continuity in bug
328
424
targeting or nominating. Depending on the change, you may even have to
329
425
create a new series (if your change the major or minor release number), in
330
that case go to `Starting a cycle` and follow the instructions from there.
426
that case go to `At the start of a release cycle` and follow the instructions from there.
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428
You should also merge (not pull) the release branch into
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429
``lp:~bzr/bzr/current``, so that branch contains the current released code
341
437
candidate, you're not finished yet. Another beta or candidate or
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438
hopefully a final release is still to come.
344
The process is the same as for the first release. Goto `Starting the
345
release phase`_ and follow the instructions again. Some details change
440
The process is the same as for the first release. Goto `Doing a
441
particular release`_ and follow the instructions again. Some details change
346
442
between beta, candidate and final releases, but they should be
347
443
documented. If the instructions aren't clear enough, please fix them.
446
Getting the release into Ubuntu
447
-------------------------------
449
(Feel free to propose or add new sections here about what we should do to
450
get bzr into other places.)
452
For the currently-under-development release of Ubuntu, no special action
453
is needed: the release should be picked by Debian and synced from there into
456
Releases off stable bzr branches should go in to the ``-updates`` of the
457
Ubuntu release that originally contained that branch. (Ubuntu Lucid had
458
bzr 2.2.0, so should get every 2.2.x update.) This means going through
459
the `SRU (Stable Release Updates)
460
<https://wiki.ubuntu.com/StableReleaseUpdates>`__ process.
462
As of September 2010, bzr has applied to the technical board to be added
463
to the `MicroReleaseExceptions
464
<https://wiki.ubuntu.com/StableReleaseUpdates/MicroReleaseExceptions>`__
465
category so that whole bugfix releases can more easily be approved.
467
**After making a bzr stable-release release, nominate the most serious bug
468
for the appropriate Ubuntu release and subscribe the `ubuntu-sru` team.**
470
This requires a couple of tricks (please reconsider and tweak as things
471
evolves from one release to the other):
473
* create a distro task with the ``Also affects distribution`` button and
474
select ``bzr (Ubuntu)``.
476
* change the *URL* to point to ``ubuntu/+source/bzr`` instead of ``bzr``
477
(this is needed if you create the distro task but not if it exists
478
already). You should now be able to click the ``Nominate for release``
479
button and select the right Ubuntu release. As of September 2010, this
482
* ``maverick`` for the 2.2 series,
483
* ``lucid`` for the 2.1 series,
484
* ``karmic`` for the 2.0 series.
486
* Subscribe the ``~ubuntu-sru`` team to the bug.
488
* Add a comment targeted to ``~ubuntu-sru`` explaining the expectations
489
(we are targeting running the test suite during the build which, as of
490
September 2010, fails for known reasons that are currently addressed).
491
Search for bugs tagged with ``sru`` for examples and don't forget to tag
492
the bug you selected.