[ros-dev] Call for discussion: release process

[Ge van Geldorp]

Our current release process is documented at
http://www.reactos.org/wiki/index.php/Release_Management_Overview. With the
outcome of the TC function description vote, we need to change it to
incorporate the TC role in the release process. I'd like to propose the
following changes:

- change "Once the project coordinator signals that a release is to be made,
dates are set for all three stages and the release process begins." to "Once
the testing coordinator (in consultation with the release engineer) signals
that a release is to be made, tentative dates are set for all three stages
and the release process begins.". Rationale: TC involvement, dates are not
fixed but dependent on blocker bugs.
- change "At the time of feature freeze, the first release candidate is
produced by the release engineer." to "At the time of feature freeze, a
release preview is produced by the release engineer.". Rationale: "release
candidate" is probably not the best term to describe the state of the .iso.
"Beta" is confusing since we're in alpha. "Preview" seems a nice
generic
term.
- change "Code freeze is the next stage of the release process." to "Code
freeze, the next stage of the release process, is entered when the testing
coordinator indicates that all blocker bugs in the release branch have been
fixed.". Rationale: TC involvement.
- change "At the time of code freeze, the second and final release candidate
is produced by the release engineer." to "At the time of code freeze, a
release candidate is produced by the release engineer.". Rationale: I think
we can safely call this one a release candidate.

Gé van Geldorp.