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Release Process Overview

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Ed Espino edited this page Apr 19, 2025 · 17 revisions

Introduction

This page provides a high-level overview of the release process for Apache Cloudberry (Incubating). It outlines the steps involved in preparing, voting on, and publishing releases in accordance with ASF requirements.

Release Preparation

This section outlines the necessary steps and considerations before initiating a release of Apache Cloudberry (Incubating). Proper preparation ensures compliance with ASF policies and facilitates a smooth release process.

1. Establish Release Goals and Timeline

Before initiating a release, it's essential to define clear objectives and set a realistic timeline. This ensures alignment among contributors and stakeholders, facilitating a smooth release process.

Define Release Objectives

  • Scope Determination: Identify the features, enhancements, and bug fixes intended for the release.
  • Compliance Goals: Ensure all planned changes adhere to ASF policies and licensing requirements.
  • Quality Standards: Set criteria for testing, documentation, and code quality to be met before release.

Set a Realistic Timeline

  • Milestone Planning: Outline key phases such as code freeze, testing periods, and voting windows.
  • Resource Assessment: Evaluate the availability of contributors and adjust timelines accordingly.
  • Buffer Inclusion: Allocate extra time to accommodate unforeseen challenges or delays.

Communicate Plans

  • Documentation: Record the release goals and timeline in a shared document or tracking system.
  • Stakeholder Engagement: Share the plan with the community via mailing lists or meetings to gather feedback and ensure transparency.

2. Designate a Release Manager

Assigning a Release Manager (RM) is a critical step in orchestrating a successful release. The RM is responsible for coordinating the release process, ensuring compliance with ASF policies, and serving as the primary point of contact throughout the release cycle.

Responsibilities of the Release Manager

  • Coordinate Release Activities: Oversee the preparation, packaging, and distribution of the release artifacts.
  • Ensure Compliance: Verify that all release components adhere to ASF licensing and distribution policies.
  • Facilitate Communication: Act as the liaison between the development community and the Project Management Committee (PMC), providing updates and addressing concerns.
  • Manage Voting Process: Initiate and manage the voting process for the release, ensuring that all necessary approvals are obtained.
  • Handle Release Artifacts: Sign the release artifacts and upload them to the appropriate ASF distribution channels.

Selecting a Release Manager

  • Community Consensus: The RM should be selected through consensus within the community, typically involving a discussion and agreement on the development mailing list.
  • Committer Status: The RM must be a committer with the necessary permissions to manage and publish release artifacts.
  • Experience and Familiarity: Ideally, the RM should have experience with the project's release process and be familiar with ASF policies and procedures.

Best Practices

  • Documentation: Maintain clear documentation of the release process to assist current and future RMs.
  • Mentorship: Encourage experienced RMs to mentor new volunteers, fostering knowledge transfer and community growth.
  • Rotation: Consider rotating the RM role among qualified community members to distribute knowledge and responsibilities.

3. Review and Finalize Codebase

Content coming soon.

4. Update Documentation

Content coming soon.

5. Verify Licensing and Dependencies

Content coming soon.

6. Prepare Release Notes

Content coming soon.

7. Set Version Numbers

Content coming soon.

Release Candidate Creation

Content coming soon.

Community Testing

Content coming soon.

Voting Process

Content coming soon.

Post-Release Activities

Content coming soon.

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