Update README to include documenting changes to language and GQL (#1100) (#1102)

Author: JPryce-Aklundh

README.adoc

@@ -1,5 +1,13 @@
 = Neo4j Cypher Manual
 
+This page covers the following topics:
+
+* xref:README.adoc#building-locally[]
+* xref:README.adoc#raising-prs[]
+* xref:README.adoc#documenting-changes[]
+* xref:README.adoc#cypher-gql[]
+
+[[building-locally]]
 == Building locally
 
 === Prereqs
@@ -39,7 +47,7 @@ When you run `npm start`, the project is monitored for updates to asciidoc files
 
 If a change to an asciidoc file is detected, the site is automatically rebuilt.
 
-
+[[raising-prs]]
 == Raising PRs
 
 
@@ -69,3 +77,43 @@ There are a few edge cases where we might want to work only on the current branc
 ** Create a feature branch from `dev`, to be merged into `dev` when appropriate.
 * When a new version is ready to published, the `cypher-25` branch will get a git tag, named with the exact version (for example, **2025.01.00**), signifying that this point-in-time marks the completion of the work for that minor release.
 * Updates merged into the `dev` branch for the next release are cherry-picked into the `cypher-25` branch.
+
+[[documenting-changes]]
+== Documenting changes to Cypher
+
+New, updated, deprecated, and removed features must be recorded on the xref:modules/ROOT/pages/deprecations-additions-removals-compatibility.adoc[Deprecations, additions, and compatibility] page.
+
+New and deprecated features should also be marked with a label:
+
+* If the impacted feature has its own header in the Cypher Manual, use the following:
+
+....
+[role=label--new-2025.mm]
+== Header
+....
+
+....
+[role=label--deprecated]
+== Header
+....
+
+* If the impacted feature is documented within a table (such as a return column in a `SHOW` command), use the following:
+
+`featureX` label:new[Introduced in 2025.mm] +
+`featureY` label:deprecated[]
+
+Labels can be difficult to apply to updated features.
+In these cases, it is often preferable to note the change in a sentence.
+For example: "As of Neo4j 2025.mm, `featureX` supports ..."
+
+Removed features should be deleted from the Cypher Manual.
+
+[[cypher-gql]]
+== Cypher and GQL
+
+When documenting a new Cypher feature, its relationship with GQL must be considered:
+
+* If the feature is part of GQL's mandatory features, it should be recorded on the page xref:modules/ROOT/pages/appendix/gql-conformance/supported-mandatory.adoc[Supported mandatory GQL features].
+* If the feature is part of GQL's optional features, it should be recorded on the page xref:modules/ROOT/pages/appendix/gql-conformance/supported-optional.adoc[Supported optional GQL features].
+* if the feature adds functionality for which there exists an analogous, optional GQL feature, it should be recorded on the page xref:modules/ROOT/pages/appendix/gql-conformance/analogous-cypher.adoc[Optional GQL features and analogous Cypher].
+* If the feature adds functionality for which there exists no GQL equivalent, it should be recorded on the page xref:modules/ROOT/pages/appendix/gql-conformance/additional-cypher.adoc[Additional Cypher features].