diff --git a/doc/release-process.md b/doc/release-process.md index b7819d91cb159..91e3616915af3 100644 --- a/doc/release-process.md +++ b/doc/release-process.md @@ -1,14 +1,52 @@ # Release Process -1. Open PR to master that - 1. adds release notes to `CHANGELOG.md` and - 2. if this is **not** a patch release, updates `_PKG_VERSION_{MAJOR,MINOR}` and `_LIB_VERSIONS_*` in `configure.ac` -2. After the PR is merged, - * if this is **not** a patch release, create a release branch with name `MAJOR.MINOR`. - Make sure that the branch contains the right commits. - Create commit on the release branch that sets `_PKG_VERSION_IS_RELEASE` in `configure.ac` to `true`. - * if this **is** a patch release, open a pull request with the bugfixes to the `MAJOR.MINOR` branch. - Also include the release note commit bump `_PKG_VERSION_PATCH` and `_LIB_VERSIONS_*` in `configure.ac`. -4. Tag the commit with `git tag -s vMAJOR.MINOR.PATCH`. -5. Push branch and tag with `git push origin --tags`. -6. Create a new GitHub release with a link to the corresponding entry in `CHANGELOG.md`. +This document outlines the process for releasing versions of the form `$MAJOR.$MINOR.$PATCH`. + +We distinguish between two types of releases: *regular* and *maintenance* releases. +Regular releases are releases of a new major or minor version as well as patches of the most recent release. +Maintenance releases, on the other hand, are required for patches of older releases. + +You should coordinate with the other maintainers on the release date, if possible. +This date will be part of the release entry in [CHANGELOG.md](../CHANGELOG.md) and it should match the dates of the remaining steps in the release process (including the date of the tag and the GitHub release). +It is best if the maintainers are present during the release, so they can help ensure that the process is followed correctly and, in the case of a regular release, they are aware that they should not modify the master branch between merging the PR in step 1 and the PR in step 3. + +This process also assumes that there will be no minor releases for old major releases. + +## Regular release + +1. Open a PR to the master branch with a commit (using message `"release: prepare for $MAJOR.$MINOR.$PATCH"`, for example) that + * finalizes the release notes in [CHANGELOG.md](../CHANGELOG.md) (make sure to include an entry for `### ABI Compatibility`) and + * updates `_PKG_VERSION_*`, `_LIB_VERSION_*`, and sets `_PKG_VERSION_IS_RELEASE` to `true` in `configure.ac`. +2. After the PR is merged, tag the commit and push it: + ``` + RELEASE_COMMIT= + git tag -s v$MAJOR.$MINOR.$PATCH -m "libsecp256k1 $MAJOR.$MINOR.$PATCH" $RELEASE_COMMIT + git push git@github.com:bitcoin-core/secp256k1.git v$MAJOR.$MINOR.$PATCH + ``` +3. Open a PR to the master branch with a commit (using message `"release: bump version after $MAJOR.$MINOR.$PATCH"`, for example) that sets `_PKG_VERSION_IS_RELEASE` to `false` and `_PKG_VERSION_PATCH` to `$PATCH + 1` and increases `_LIB_VERSION_REVISION`. If other maintainers are not present to approve the PR, it can be merged without ACKs. +4. Create a new GitHub release with a link to the corresponding entry in [CHANGELOG.md](../CHANGELOG.md). + +## Maintenance release + +Note that bugfixes only need to be backported to releases for which no compatible release without the bug exists. + +1. If `$PATCH = 1`, create maintenance branch `$MAJOR.$MINOR`: + ``` + git checkout -b $MAJOR.$MINOR v$MAJOR.$MINOR.0 + git push git@github.com:bitcoin-core/secp256k1.git $MAJOR.$MINOR + ``` +2. Open a pull request to the `$MAJOR.$MINOR` branch that + * includes the bugfixes, + * finalizes the release notes, + * bumps `_PKG_VERSION_PATCH` and `_LIB_VERSION_REVISION` in `configure.ac` (with commit message `"release: update PKG_ and LIB_VERSION for $MAJOR.$MINOR.$PATCH"`, for example). +3. After the PRs are merged, update the release branch and tag the commit: + ``` + git checkout $MAJOR.$MINOR && git pull + git tag -s v$MAJOR.$MINOR.$PATCH -m "libsecp256k1 $MAJOR.$MINOR.$PATCH" + ``` +4. Push tag: + ``` + git push git@github.com:bitcoin-core/secp256k1.git v$MAJOR.$MINOR.$PATCH + ``` +5. Create a new GitHub release with a link to the corresponding entry in [CHANGELOG.md](../CHANGELOG.md). +6. Open PR to the master branch that includes a commit (with commit message `"release notes: add $MAJOR.$MINOR.$PATCH"`, for example) that adds release notes to [CHANGELOG.md](../CHANGELOG.md).