NOTE: This is a guide used by the GitLab B.V. developers.
NOTE: This is a guide used by the GitLab B.V. developers.
It starts 7 working days before the release.
It starts 7 working days before the release.
The release manager doesn't have to perform all the work but must ensure someone is assigned.
The release manager doesn't have to perform all the work but must ensure someone is assigned.
The current release manager must schedule the appointment of the next release manager.
The current release manager must schedule the appointment of the next release manager.
The new release manager should create overall issue to track the progress.
The new release manager should create overall issue to track the progress.
## Release Manager
## Release Manager
A release manager is selected that coordinates all releases the coming month,
A release manager is selected that coordinates all releases the coming month,
including the patch releases for previous releases.
including the patch releases for previous releases.
The release manager has to make sure all the steps below are done and delegated where necessary.
The release manager has to make sure all the steps below are done and delegated where necessary.
This person should also make sure this document is kept up to date and issues are created and updated.
This person should also make sure this document is kept up to date and issues are created and updated.
## Take vacations into account
## Take vacations into account
The time is measured in weekdays to compensate for weekends.
The time is measured in weekdays to compensate for weekends.
Do everything on time to prevent problems due to rush jobs or too little testing time.
Do everything on time to prevent problems due to rush jobs or too little testing time.
Make sure that you take into account any vacations of maintainers.
Make sure that you take into account any vacations of maintainers.
If the release is falling behind immediately warn the team.
If the release is falling behind immediately warn the team.
## Create an overall issue and follow it
## Create an overall issue and follow it
Create issue for GitLab CE project(internal). Name it "Release x.x.x" for easier searching.
Create issue for GitLab CE project(internal). Name it "Release x.x.x" for easier searching.
Replace the dates with actual dates based on the number of workdays before the release.
Replace the dates with actual dates based on the number of workdays before the release.
All steps from issue template are explained below
All steps from issue template are explained below
```
```
Xth: (7 working days before the 22nd)
Xth: (7 working days before the 22nd)
- [ ] Triage the omnibus-gitlab milestone
- [ ] Triage the omnibus-gitlab milestone
Xth: (6 working days before the 22nd)
Xth: (6 working days before the 22nd)
- [ ] Merge CE master in to EE master via merge request (#LINK)
- [ ] Merge CE master in to EE master via merge request (#LINK)
- [ ] Determine QA person and notify this person
- [ ] Determine QA person and notify this person
-[ ] Check the tasks in [how to rc1 guide](https://dev.gitlab.org/gitlab/gitlabhq/blob/master/doc/release/howto_rc1.md) and delegate tasks if necessary
-[ ] Check the tasks in [how to rc1 guide](https://dev.gitlab.org/gitlab/gitlabhq/blob/master/doc/release/howto_rc1.md) and delegate tasks if necessary
- [ ] Create CE, EE, CI RC1 versions (#LINK)
- [ ] Create CE, EE, CI RC1 versions (#LINK)
- [ ] Build RC1 packages (EE first) (#LINK)
- [ ] Build RC1 packages (EE first) (#LINK)
Xth: (5 working days before the 22nd)
Xth: (5 working days before the 22nd)
- [ ] Do QA and fix anything coming out of it (#LINK)
- [ ] Do QA and fix anything coming out of it (#LINK)
- [ ] Close the omnibus-gitlab milestone
- [ ] Close the omnibus-gitlab milestone
- [ ] Prepare the blog post (#LINK)
- [ ] Prepare the blog post (#LINK)
Xth: (4 working days before the 22nd)
Xth: (4 working days before the 22nd)
- [ ] Update GitLab.com with rc1 (#LINK) (https://dev.gitlab.org/cookbooks/chef-repo/blob/master/doc/administration.md#deploy-the-package)
- [ ] Update GitLab.com with rc1 (#LINK) (https://dev.gitlab.org/cookbooks/chef-repo/blob/master/doc/administration.md#deploy-the-package)
- [ ] Update ci.gitLab.com with rc1 (#LINK) (https://dev.gitlab.org/cookbooks/chef-repo/blob/master/doc/administration.md#deploy-the-package)
- [ ] Update ci.gitLab.com with rc1 (#LINK) (https://dev.gitlab.org/cookbooks/chef-repo/blob/master/doc/administration.md#deploy-the-package)
- [ ] Create regression issues (CE, CI) (#LINK)
- [ ] Create regression issues (CE, CI) (#LINK)
- [ ] Tweet about rc1 (#LINK)
- [ ] Tweet about rc1 (#LINK)
Xth: (3 working days before the 22nd)
Xth: (3 working days before the 22nd)
- [ ] Merge CE stable branch into EE stable branch
- [ ] Merge CE stable branch into EE stable branch
Xth: (2 working days before the 22nd)
Xth: (2 working days before the 22nd)
- [ ] Check that everyone is mentioned on the blog post (the reviewer should have done this one working day ago)
- [ ] Check that everyone is mentioned on the blog post (the reviewer should have done this one working day ago)
- [ ] Check that MVP is added to the mvp page (source/mvp/index.html in www-gitlab-com)
- [ ] Check that MVP is added to the mvp page (source/mvp/index.html in www-gitlab-com)
Xth: (1 working day before the 22nd)
Xth: (1 working day before the 22nd)
- [ ] Create CE, EE, CI stable versions (#LINK)
- [ ] Create CE, EE, CI stable versions (#LINK)
- [ ] Create Omnibus tags and build packages
- [ ] Create Omnibus tags and build packages
- [ ] Update GitLab.com with the stable version (#LINK)
- [ ] Update GitLab.com with the stable version (#LINK)
- [ ] Update ci.gitLab.com with the stable version (#LINK)
- [ ] Update ci.gitLab.com with the stable version (#LINK)
22nd before 12AM CET:
22nd before 12AM CET:
Release before 12AM CET / 3AM PST, to make sure the majority of our users
Release before 12AM CET / 3AM PST, to make sure the majority of our users
get the new version on the 22nd and there is sufficient time in the European
get the new version on the 22nd and there is sufficient time in the European
workday to quickly fix any issues.
workday to quickly fix any issues.
- [ ] Release CE, EE and CI (#LINK)
- [ ] Release CE, EE and CI (#LINK)
- [ ] Schedule a second tweet of the release announcement at 6PM CET / 9AM PST
- [ ] Schedule a second tweet of the release announcement at 6PM CET / 9AM PST
```
```
- - -
- - -
## Update changelog
## Update changelog
Any changes not yet added to the changelog are added by lead developer and in that merge request the complete team is
Any changes not yet added to the changelog are added by lead developer and in that merge request the complete team is
asked if there is anything missing.
asked if there is anything missing.
There are three changelogs that need to be updated: CE, EE and CI.
There are three changelogs that need to be updated: CE, EE and CI.
## Create RC1 (CE, EE, CI)
## Create RC1 (CE, EE, CI)
[Follow this How-to guide](howto_rc1.md) to create RC1.
[Follow this How-to guide](howto_rc1.md) to create RC1.
## Prepare CHANGELOG for next release
## Prepare CHANGELOG for next release
Once the stable branches have been created, update the CHANGELOG in `master` with the upcoming version, usually X.X.X.pre.
Once the stable branches have been created, update the CHANGELOG in `master` with the upcoming version, usually X.X.X.pre.
On creating the stable branches, notify the core team and developers.
On creating the stable branches, notify the core team and developers.
## QA
## QA
Create issue on dev.gitlab.org `gitlab` repository, named "GitLab X.X QA" in order to keep track of the progress.
Create issue on dev.gitlab.org `gitlab` repository, named "GitLab X.X QA" in order to keep track of the progress.
Use the omnibus packages created for RC1 of Enterprise Edition using [this guide](https://dev.gitlab.org/gitlab/gitlab-ee/blob/master/doc/release/manual_testing.md).
Use the omnibus packages created for RC1 of Enterprise Edition using [this guide](https://dev.gitlab.org/gitlab/gitlab-ee/blob/master/doc/release/manual_testing.md).
**NOTE** Upgrader can only be tested when tags are pushed to all repositories. Do not forget to confirm it is working before releasing. Note that in the issue.
**NOTE** Upgrader can only be tested when tags are pushed to all repositories. Do not forget to confirm it is working before releasing. Note that in the issue.
#### Fix anything coming out of the QA
#### Fix anything coming out of the QA
Create an issue with description of a problem, if it is quick fix fix it yourself otherwise contact the team for advice.
Create an issue with description of a problem, if it is quick fix fix it yourself otherwise contact the team for advice.
**NOTE** If there is a problem that cannot be fixed in a timely manner, reverting the feature is an option! If the feature is reverted,
**NOTE** If there is a problem that cannot be fixed in a timely manner, reverting the feature is an option! If the feature is reverted,
create an issue about it in order to discuss the next steps after the release.
create an issue about it in order to discuss the next steps after the release.
## Update GitLab.com with RC1
## Update GitLab.com with RC1
Use the omnibus EE packages created for RC1.
Use the omnibus EE packages created for RC1.
If there are big database migrations consider testing them with the production db on a VM.
If there are big database migrations consider testing them with the production db on a VM.
Try to deploy in the morning.
Try to deploy in the morning.
It is important to do this as soon as possible, so we can catch any errors before we release the full version.
It is important to do this as soon as possible, so we can catch any errors before we release the full version.
## Create a regressions issue
## Create a regressions issue
On [the GitLab CE issue tracker on GitLab.com](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab-ce/issues/) create an issue titled "GitLab X.X regressions" add the following text:
On [the GitLab CE issue tracker on GitLab.com](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab-ce/issues/) create an issue titled "GitLab X.X regressions" add the following text:
This is a meta issue to discuss possible regressions in this monthly release and any patch versions.
This is a meta issue to discuss possible regressions in this monthly release and any patch versions.
Please do not raise issues directly in this issue but link to issues that might warrant a patch release.
Please do not raise issues directly in this issue but link to issues that might warrant a patch release.
The decision to create a patch release or not is with the release manager who is assigned to this issue.
The decision to create a patch release or not is with the release manager who is assigned to this issue.
The release manager will comment here about the plans for patch releases.
The release manager will comment here about the plans for patch releases.
Assign the issue to the release manager and at mention all members of gitlab core team. If there are any known bugs in the release add them immediately.
Assign the issue to the release manager and at mention all members of gitlab core team. If there are any known bugs in the release add them immediately.
## Tweet about RC1
## Tweet about RC1
Tweet about the RC release:
Tweet about the RC release:
> GitLab x.x.0.rc1 is out. This release candidate is only suitable for testing. Please link regressions issues from LINK_TO_REGRESSION_ISSUE
> GitLab x.x.0.rc1 is available https://packages.gitlab.com/gitlab/unstable Don't use in production. Please link regressions issues from LINK_TO_REGRESSION_ISSUE
## Prepare the blog post
## Prepare the blog post
1. The blog post template for this release should already exist and might have comments that were added during the month.
1. The blog post template for this release should already exist and might have comments that were added during the month.
1. Fill out as much of the blog post template as you can.
1. Fill out as much of the blog post template as you can.
1. Make sure the blog post contains information about the GitLab CI release.
1. Make sure the blog post contains information about the GitLab CI release.
1. Check the changelog of CE and EE for important changes.
1. Check the changelog of CE and EE for important changes.
1. Also check the CI changelog
1. Also check the CI changelog
1. Add a proposed tweet text to the blog post WIP MR description.
1. Add a proposed tweet text to the blog post WIP MR description.
1. Create a WIP MR for the blog post
1. Create a WIP MR for the blog post
1. Ask Dmitriy (or a team member with OS X) to add screenshots to the WIP MR.
1. Ask Dmitriy (or a team member with OS X) to add screenshots to the WIP MR.
1. Decide with core team who will be the MVP user.
1. Decide with core team who will be the MVP user.
1. Create WIP MR for adding MVP to MVP page on website
1. Create WIP MR for adding MVP to MVP page on website
1. Add a note if there are security fixes: This release fixes an important security issue and we advise everyone to upgrade as soon as possible.
1. Add a note if there are security fixes: This release fixes an important security issue and we advise everyone to upgrade as soon as possible.
1. Create a merge request on [GitLab.com](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-com/www-gitlab-com/tree/master)
1. Create a merge request on [GitLab.com](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-com/www-gitlab-com/tree/master)
1. Assign to one reviewer who will fix spelling issues by editing the branch (either with a git client or by using the online editor)
1. Assign to one reviewer who will fix spelling issues by editing the branch (either with a git client or by using the online editor)
1. Comment to the reviewer: '@person Please mention the whole team as soon as you are done (3 workdays before release at the latest)'
1. Comment to the reviewer: '@person Please mention the whole team as soon as you are done (3 workdays before release at the latest)'
1. Create a complete copy of the [release blog template](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-com/www-gitlab-com/blob/master/doc/release_blog_template.md) for the release after this.
1. Create a complete copy of the [release blog template](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-com/www-gitlab-com/blob/master/doc/release_blog_template.md) for the release after this.
