Release `25.4.x`

[kenodegard]

Summary

Placeholder for conda-build 25.4.x release.

Pilot	@kenodegard
Co-pilot	@beckermr

Tasks

The week before release week

• Create release branch (named 25.4.x) https://github.com/conda/conda-build/tree/25.4.x
• Ensure release candidates are being successfully built (see conda-canary/label/rc-conda-build-25.4.x)
• Complete outstanding PRs
• Check for deprecated features
• Test release candidates

Release week

• Create release PR (see release process) Changelog 25.4.0 #5679
• Create Zulip thread on #releases
  • Announce 25.4.0 in-progress #releases > conda-build 25.4.x
• Publish release https://github.com/conda/conda-build/releases/tag/25.4.0
• Merge 25.4.x back into main #5684
• Activate the 25.4.x branch on ReadTheDocs
• Bump/update feedstocks
  • Anaconda, Inc.'s feedstock
  • ENH: update package version to 25.4.0 conda-forge/conda-build-feedstock#254
• Hand off to packaging team(s)
• Announce release
  • Create & publish conda.org blog post
  • Post on Zulip thread

Patch 25.4.1

• fix: allow tuples, lists and dicts in selectors #5690
• Create release PR (see release process) Changelog 25.4.1 #5691
• Update Zulip thread on #releases
  • Announce 25.4.1 in-progress #releases > conda-build 25.4.x @ 💬
• Publish release https://github.com/conda/conda-build/releases/tag/25.4.1
• Merge 25.4.x back into main #5684
• Bump/update feedstocks
  • Anaconda, Inc.'s feedstock
  • ENH: update package version to 25.4.1 conda-forge/conda-build-feedstock#256
• Hand off to packaging team(s)
• Announce release
  • Post on Zulip thread #releases > conda-build 25.4.x @ 💬

Patch 25.4.2

• fix: enable float, replace, join, len, and os.sep for jinja2 and selectors #5695
• Create release PR (see release process) prod: changelog for 25.4.2 #5698
• Update Zulip thread on #releases
  • Announce 25.4.2 in-progress
• Publish release https://github.com/conda/conda-build/releases/tag/25.4.2
• Merge 25.4.x back into main #5696
• Bump/update feedstocks
  • conda-build 25.4.2 AnacondaRecipes/conda-build-feedstock#58
  • conda-build v25.4.2 conda-forge/conda-build-feedstock#257
• Hand off to packaging team(s)
• Announce release
  • Post on Zulip thread

[beckermr]

I am happy to be the pilot here, but I think we need to further separate the anaconda inc release process from the release process for conda-build. Thoughts on how to do this @jezdez @kenodegard?

[beckermr]

Maybe we remove these items:

- Bump/update feedstocks

  - [Anaconda, Inc.'s feedstock](https://github.com/AnacondaRecipes/conda-build-feedstock)

  - [conda-forge feedstock](https://github.com/conda-forge/conda-build-feedstock)

- Hand off to packaging team(s)

Also, the blog post should be optional IMHO.

[kenodegard]

@beckermr oh sorry! I didn't see your messages!

The checklist was already intended to be agnostic with regards to who is leading the release (e.g., "hand off to packaging team(s)" was intended to refer to both Anaconda and conda-forge but this item is probably redundant now that we have the Zulip steps). But yes, suggestions to make this more open would be good.

[beckermr]

How are these lists generated? Is there a job somewhere?

[kenodegard]

All of this is currently only documented (with templates) in the RELEASE.md doc.

When I get the time I've been tinkering on further automating much of the release process (see conda/actions#236 and conda/actions#235) which would include auto generating these release epics.

[beckermr]

Ah great! I will make a pr against those with ideas. I can co-pilot this release if you'd like. It'd be good for me to get experience so I can pilot releases in the future.