gitlab-org--gitlab-foss/doc/release/monthly.md

# Monthly Release

NOTE: This is a guide used by the GitLab B.V. developers.

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 current release manager must schedule the appointment of the next release manager.
The new release manager should create overall issue to track the progress.

## Release Manager

A release manager is selected that coordinates all releases the coming month, including the patch releases for previous releases.
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.

## Take vacations into account

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.
Make sure that you take into account any vacations of maintainers.
If the release is falling behind immediately warn the team.

## Create an overall issue and follow it

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.
All steps from issue template are explained below

```
Xth: (7 working days before the 22nd)

- [ ] Code freeze
- [ ] Update the CE changelog (#LINK)
- [ ] Update the EE changelog (#LINK)
- [ ] Update the CI changelog (#LINK)
- [ ] Triage the omnibus-gitlab milestone

Xth: (6 working days before the 22nd)

- [ ] Merge CE master in to EE master via merge request (#LINK)
- [ ] Create CE, EE, CI RC1 versions (#LINK)
- [ ] Determine QA person and notify this person

Xth: (5 working days before the 22nd)

- [ ] Do QA and fix anything coming out of it (#LINK)
- [ ] Close the omnibus-gitlab milestone

Xth: (4 working days before the 22nd)

- [ ] Build rc1 package for GitLab.com (https://dev.gitlab.org/cookbooks/chef-repo/blob/master/doc/administration.md#build-a-package)
- [ ] Update GitLab.com with rc1 (#LINK) (https://dev.gitlab.org/cookbooks/chef-repo/blob/master/doc/administration.md#deploy-the-package)

Xth: (3 working days before the 22nd)

- [ ] Create regression issues (CE, CI) (#LINK)
- [ ] Tweet about rc1 (#LINK)
- [ ] Prepare the blog post (#LINK)

Xth: (2 working days before the 22nd)

- [ ] Merge CE stable branch into EE stable branch
- [ ] Check that everyone is mentioned on the blog post (the reviewer should have done this one working day ago)

Xth: (1 working day before the 22nd)

- [ ] Create CE, EE, CI stable versions (#LINK)
- [ ] Create Omnibus tags and build packages

22nd:

- [ ] Release CE, EE and CI (#LINK)

Xth: (1 working day after the 22nd)

- [ ] Update GitLab.com with the stable version (#LINK)

```

- - -

## Code Freeze

Stop merging code in master, except for important bug fixes

## Update changelog

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.

There are three changelogs that need to be updated: CE, EE and CI.

Remove the Note text in the stable branches.

## Create RC1 (CE, EE, CI)

[Follow this How-to guide](howto_rc1.md) to create RC1.

## Prepare CHANGELOG for next release

Once the stable branches have been created, update the CHANGELOG in `master` with the upcoming version and add 70 empty
lines to it. We do this in order to avoid merge conflicts when merging the CHANGELOG.

Make sure that the CHANGELOG im master contains the following disclaimer message:

> Note: The upcoming release contains empty lines to reduce the number of merge conflicts, scroll down to see past releases.

## QA

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 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.

#### 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.

**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.

## Update GitLab.com with RC1

Merge the RC1 EE code into GitLab.com.
Once the build is green, create a package.
If there are big database migrations consider testing them with the production db on a VM.
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.

## 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:

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.
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.

Assign the issue to the release manager and /cc all the core-team members active on the issue tracker. If there are any known bugs in the release add them immediately.

## Tweet about RC1

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

## Prepare the blog post

1. Start with a complete copy of the [release blog template](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-com/www-gitlab-com/blob/master/doc/release_blog_template.md) and fill it out.
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. Also check the CI changelog
1. Add a proposed tweet text to the blog post WIP MR description.
1. Create a WIP MR for the blog post
1. Ask Dmitriy to add screenshots to the WIP MR.
1. Decide with team who will be the MVP user. 
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. 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. Comment to the reviewer: '@person Please mention the whole team as soon as you are done (3 workdays before release at the latest)'

## Create CE, EE, CI stable versions

Get release tools

```
git clone git@dev.gitlab.org:gitlab/release-tools.git
cd release-tools
```

Bump version, create release tag and push to remotes:

```
bundle exec rake release["x.x.0"]
```

Also perform these steps for GitLab CI:

1. bump version in the stable branch
1. create annotated tag
1. push the stable branch and the annotated tag to the public repositories

Update [installation.md](/doc/install/installation.md) to the newest version in master.


## Create Omnibus tags and build packages

Follow the [release doc in the Omnibus repository](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/omnibus-gitlab/blob/master/doc/release.md).
This can happen before tagging because Omnibus uses tags in its own repo and SHA1's to refer to the GitLab codebase.


## Release CE, EE and CI

__1. Publish packages for new release__

Update `downloads/index.html` and `downloads/archive/index.html` in `www-gitlab-com` repository.

__2. Publish blog for new release__

Doublecheck the everyone has been mentioned in the blog post.
Merge the [blog merge request](#1-prepare-the-blog-post) in `www-gitlab-com` repository.

__3. Tweet to blog__

Send out a tweet to share the good news with the world.
List the most important features and link to the blog post.

Proposed tweet "Release of GitLab X.X & CI Y.Y! FEATURE, FEATURE and FEATURE <link-to-blogpost> #gitlab"

Consider creating a post on Hacker News.

## Update GitLab.com with the stable version

- Deploy the package (should not need downtime because of the small difference with RC1)