curl release procedure - how to do a release

in the source code repo

  • edit RELEASE-NOTES to be accurate

  • update docs/THANKS

  • make sure all relevant changes are committed on the master branch

  • tag the git repo in this style: git tag -a curl-7_34_0. -a annotates the tag and we use underscores instead of dots in the version number. Make sure the tag is GPG signed (using -s).

  • run "./maketgz 7.34.0" to build the release tarballs. It is important that you run this on a machine with the correct set of autotools etc installed as this is what then will be shipped and used by most users on *nix like systems.

  • push the git commits and the new tag

  • gpg sign the 4 tarballs as maketgz suggests

  • upload the 8 resulting files to the primary download directory

in the curl-www repo

  • edit Makefile (version number and date),

  • edit _newslog.html (announce the new release) and

  • edit _changes.html (insert changes+bugfixes from RELEASE-NOTES)

  • commit all local changes

  • tag the repo with the same name as used for the source repo.

  • make sure all relevant changes are committed and pushed on the master branch

    (the web site then updates its contents automatically)

on github

  • edit the newly made release tag so that it is listed as the latest release

inform

  • send an email to curl-users, curl-announce and curl-library. Insert the RELEASE-NOTES into the mail.

celebrate

  • suitable beverage intake is encouraged for the festivities

curl release scheduling

Release Cycle

We do releases every 8 weeks on Wednesdays. If critical problems arise, we can insert releases outside of the schedule or we can move the release date - but this is rare.

Each 8 week release cycle is split in two 4-week periods.

  • During the first 4 weeks after a release, we allow new features and changes to curl and libcurl. If we accept any such changes, we bump the minor number used for the next release.

  • During the second 4-week period we do not merge any features or changes, we then only focus on fixing bugs and polishing things to make a solid coming release.

  • After a regular procedure-following release (made on Wednesdays), the feature window remains closed until the following Monday in case of special actions or patch releases etc.

If a future release date happens to end up on a "bad date", like in the middle of common public holidays or when the lead release manager is away traveling, the release date can be moved forwards or backwards a full week. This is then advertised well in advance.

Coming dates

Based on the description above, here are some planned release dates (at the time of this writing):

  • March 4, 2020 (7.69.0)
  • April 29, 2020
  • June 24, 2020
  • August 19, 2020
  • October 14, 2020
  • December 9, 2020
  • February 3, 2021

The above (and more) curl-related dates are published in iCalendar format as well.