doc: document the release process

Author: jamaljsr

RELEASE.md

@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+# lnc-core Release Process
+
+This document describes the steps needed to release a new version of
+`@lightninglabs/lnc-core` and publish the package to the NPM registry.
+
+The steps below for Bumping proto versions and Versioning should be done in
+a PR with proper review.
+
+## Bumping proto versions
+
+When new versions of LND, Loop, Pool, Faraday, or Lightning Terminal are
+released, we should update the generated types in this package to match the
+latest versions. Just make sure that the versions listed here also match the
+versions that the `lightning-node-connect` release was built with. You can check
+the `go.mod` files for
+[wasm-client](https://github.com/lightninglabs/lightning-node-connect/blob/master/cmd/wasm-client/go.mod)
+and
+[mobile](https://github.com/lightninglabs/lightning-node-connect/blob/master/mobile/go.mod).
+
+Specify the new versions the `config` section in the
+[package.json](https://github.com/lightninglabs/lnc-core/blob/9d31f49dd9cacab1e7cb1d5664074fd554f42897/package.json#L7)
+file.
+
+```json
+  "config": {
+    "lnd_release_tag": "v0.16.0-beta",
+    "loop_release_tag": "v0.22.0-beta",
+    "pool_release_tag": "v0.6.2-beta",
+    "faraday_release_tag": "v0.2.9-alpha",
+    "lit_release_tag": "v0.9.0-alpha",
+    "protoc_version": "21.9"
+  },
+```
+
+After specifying the latest versions, run the following commands in the root
+dir of the project.
+
+```sh
+# download new proto files
+yarn run update-protos
+# generate Typescript definitions from the updated protos
+yarn run generate
+```
+
+## Versioning
+
+We typically try to keep the version of `lnc-core` in sync with the version
+number of [lightning-node-connect](https://github.com/lightninglabs/lightning-node-connect).
+If we need to bump the version of `lnc-core` without requiring a new version of
+`lightning-node-connect`, we should append an incrementing number to the end of
+the version. For example,
+[v0.1.11-alpha.1](https://github.com/lightninglabs/lnc-web/releases/tag/v0.1.11-alpha.1).
+
+Increment the version number in the
+[package.json](https://github.com/lightninglabs/lnc-core/blob/9d31f49dd9cacab1e7cb1d5664074fd554f42897/package.json#L3)
+file.
+
+## Publishing to NPM
+
+Building and publishing the this package to NPM is handled automatically by
+the [npm.yml](https://github.com/lightninglabs/lnc-core/blob/e136a4ee9295279acb0ae309327e19e6a59b39aa/.github/workflows/npm.yml#L1)
+Github workflow. This is triggered when a new release is created.
+
+## Github Release
+
+[Draft a new release](https://github.com/lightninglabs/lnc-core/releases/new)
+on Github. Create a new tag and auto-generate the release notes. You do not
+need to include any assets.
+
+Once you publish the release, the build and publish to NPM will complete in
+a few minutes. You can confirm the new version is published by visiting
+https://www.npmjs.com/package/@lightninglabs/lnc-core