diff --git a/maintainers/release-process.md b/maintainers/release-process.md new file mode 100644 index 000000000..b52d218f5 --- /dev/null +++ b/maintainers/release-process.md @@ -0,0 +1,181 @@ +# Nix release process + +## Release artifacts + +The release process is intended to create the following for each +release: + +* A Git tag + +* Binary tarballs in https://releases.nixos.org/?prefix=nix/ + +* Docker images + +* Closures in https://cache.nixos.org + +* (Optionally) Updated `fallback-paths.nix` in Nixpkgs + +* An updated manual on https://nixos.org/manual/nix/stable/ + +## Creating a new release from the `master` branch + +* Make sure that the [Hydra `master` jobset](https://hydra.nixos.org/jobset/nix/master) succeeds. + +* In a checkout of the Nix repo, make sure you're on `master` and run + `git pull`. + +* Move the contents of `doc/manual/src/release-notes/rl-next.md` + (except the first line) to + `doc/manual/src/release-notes/rl-$VERSION.md` (where `$VERSION` is + the contents of `.version` *without* the patch level, e.g. `2.12` + rather than `2.12.0`). + +* Add a header to `doc/manual/src/release-notes/rl-$VERSION.md` like + + ``` + # Release 2.12 (2022-12-06) + ``` + +* Proof-read / edit / rearrange the release notes. Breaking changes + and highlights should go to the top. + +* Add a link to the release notes to `doc/manual/src/SUMMARY.md.in` + (*not* `SUMMARY.md`), e.g. + + ``` + - [Release 2.12 (2022-12-06)](release-notes/rl-2.12.md) + ``` + +* Run + + ```console + $ git checkout -b release-notes + $ git add doc/manual/src/release-notes/rl-$VERSION.md + $ git commit -a -m 'Release notes' + $ git push --set-upstream $REMOTE release-notes + ``` + +* Create a PR for `release-notes`. + +* Wait for the PR to be merged. + +* Create a branch for the release: + + ```console + $ git checkout master + $ git pull + $ git checkout -b $VERSION-maintenance + ``` + +* Mark the release as stable: + + ```console + $ git cherry-pick f673551e71942a52b6d7ae66af8b67140904a76a + ``` + + This removes the link to `rl-next.md` from the manual and sets + `officialRelease = true` in `flake.nix`. + +* Push the release branch: + + ```console + $ git push --set-upstream origin $VERSION-maintenance + ``` + +* Create a jobset for the release branch on Hydra as follows: + + * Go to the jobset of the previous release + (e.g. https://hydra.nixos.org/jobset/nix/maintenance-2.11). + + * Select `Actions -> Clone this jobset`. + + * Set identifier to `maintenance-$VERSION`. + + * Set description to `$VERSION release branch`. + + * Set flake URL to `github:NixOS/nix/$VERSION-maintenance`. + + * Hit `Create jobset`. + +* Wait for the new jobset to evaluate and build. If impatient, go to + the evaluation and select `Actions -> Bump builds to front of + queue`. + +* When the jobset evaluation has succeeded building, take note of the + evaluation ID (e.g. `1780832` in + `https://hydra.nixos.org/eval/1780832`). + +* Tag the release and upload the release artifacts to + [`releases.nixos.org`](https://releases.nixos.org/) and [Docker Hub](https://hub.docker.com/): + + ```console + $ IS_LATEST=1 ./maintainers/upload-release.pl + ``` + + Note: `IS_LATEST=1` causes the `latest-release` branch to be + force-updated. This is used by the `nixos.org` website to get the + [latest Nix manual](https://nixos.org/manual/nixpkgs/unstable/). + + TODO: This script requires the right AWS credentials. Document. + + TODO: This script currently requires a + `/home/eelco/Dev/nix-pristine` and + `/home/eelco/Dev/nixpkgs-pristine`. + + TODO: trigger nixos.org netlify: https://docs.netlify.com/configure-builds/build-hooks/ +* Prepare for the next point release by editing `.version` to + e.g. + + ```console + $ echo 2.12.1 > .version + $ git commit -a -m 'Bump version' + $ git push + ``` + + Commit and push this to the maintenance branch. + +* Bump the version of `master`: + + ```console + $ git checkout master + $ git pull + $ NEW_VERSION=2.13.0 + $ echo -n $NEW_VERSION > .version + $ git checkout -b bump-$NEW_VERSION + $ git commit -a -m 'Bump version' + $ git push --set-upstream origin bump-$NEW_VERSION + ``` + + Make a pull request and auto-merge it. + +* Create a milestone for the next release, move all unresolved issues + from the previous milestone, and close the previous milestone. Set + the date for the next milestone 6 weeks from now. + +* Create a backport label + +* Post an [announcement on Discourse](https://discourse.nixos.org/c/announcements/8), including the contents of + `rl-$VERSION.md`. + +## Creating a point release + +* Wait for the desired evaluation of the maintenance jobset to finish + building. + +* Run + + ```console + $ IS_LATEST=1 ./maintainers/upload-release.pl + ``` + + Omit `IS_LATEST=1` when creating a point release that is not on the + most recent stable branch. This prevents `nixos.org` to going back + to an older release. + +* Bump the version number of the release branch as above (e.g. to + `2.12.2`). + +## Recovering from mistakes + +`upload-release.pl` should be idempotent. For instance a wrong `IS_LATEST` value can be fixed that way, by running the script on the actual latest release. +