View source for Developer Area/Release Instructions/Release Candidate

=1. Create the new dev branch=
Note: You only need to do this for the '''first' release candidate for each major version. If you need to do subsequent release candidates, put them on the same branch.'''

Create a new <code>_DEV</code> branch based off of main.

*<code>git checkout main</code>

*<code>git checkout -b 1.10_DEV</code>

*<code>git push gerrit 1.10_DEV</code>

If Gerrit won't let you push your new branch, you can instead create it through Gerrit.

*Go to [https://reviews.mahara.org/ reviews.mahara.org]
*Click on 'Projects', the 'mahara' project, and then on the 'Branches' subtab.

*In the '''<code>Makefile</code>''' of the new '''<code>_DEV</code>''' branch, replace <code>main</code> with the name of the branch. Commit and make push.
*Create an empty 'Changelog' file. Commit and make push.
*Update the release in <code>htdocs/lib/version.php</code> to be <code>[whatever]rc1.</code> Commit and make push.

=2. Bump the version on main=

*Go to the main branch and bump the version to <code>1.5.0dev</code> (if you just created the <code>1.4_DEV</code> branch)
*In <code>htdocs/lib/version.php</code> (update series, release and version - version should be today's date)
*README
*Commit and make push

=3. Package the release=

Now, on the new _DEV branch, follow the usual [[Developer Area/Release Instructions|release instructions]] '''[[Developer_Area/Release_Instructions#Sign_and_upload_the_tarballs|up to andreviews.mahara.org including this step]]'''.

=4. Creating the new language packs branch=

You need to set up launchpad translations for the new branch.  See the separate instructions on [[Developer_Area/Language_Packs/Launchpad_Branching|setting up a new translations branch]].

=5. Changelog and release notes=

Do not paste the full changelog on Launchpad (that's for the actual release) and only put something like "First release candidate for 1.4" in the bullet point section of the release notes on Launchpad.

=6. Update master.dev.mahara.org=

Updating master.dev.mahara.org however is useful for users who do not have somewhere to set up a test instance but would like to check out the changes.

=7. Do not update the bug tracker=

The bug tracker does not need to be updated because no bugs should ever have an RC release as its milestone.

Furthermore, these bugs are not fixed until the release has happened, so they should be left as "Fix committed".

=8. Do not update the demo site=

The demo site should always be the last '''stable''' release. The RC is not a release yet.

=9. Announcements=

The main purpose of an RC is to get people to test the release for any major bugs. Therefore, we do not consider the RC as a release and only announce it through:

*Twitter
*IRC
*The mahara.org news forum

(Note that Freshmeat is missing.)

===Sample news forum post for first release candidate===

Subject: First release candidate for Mahara 1.10 available
 
We have just published the first release candidate for Mahara 1.10.
 
This is a call for testing. If you want to make sure that Mahar 1.10 works well on your site, please help us out by testing this first release candidate:

*https://launchpad.net/mahara/+milestone/1.0rc1

New features for the release candidate are listed on Launchpad with the "nominatedfeature" tag.

*https://bugs.launchpad.net/mahara/+bugs?field.milestone%3Alist=64606&field.tag=nominatedfeature

We've also done lots of bug fixing is this release cycle. The full list of changes that have been made for 1.10 can be found by clicking here.

*https://bugs.launchpad.net/mahara/+bugs?field.status%3Alist=FIXCOMMITTED&field.status%3Alist=FIXRELEASED&field.milestone%3Alist=64606

If any of the targeted bugs affect your users, this is an opportunity for you to make sure they are fixed properly.

If you find any bugs, please report them on Launchpad so they can be fixed before the 1.10.0 release:

*https://bugs.launchpad.net/mahara/+filebug

If important bugs are found within the next week we may produce a second release candidate. Otherwise this release candidate will become the final 1.10.0 release.

Cheers,

The 1.10 Release Managers

===Sample forum post for second and/or final release candidate===

Subject: Second release candidate for Mahara 1.4 available

Based on the feedback we have received so far, this will most likely be the last release candidate before the final 1.4 release:

*https://launchpad.net/mahara/1.4/1.4rc2

New Features for the Release Candidate are listed on Launchpad with the newfeature tag:

*https://bugs.launchpad.net/mahara/+bugs?field.milestone%3Alist=64606&field.tag=nominatedfeature

We've also done lots of bug fixing is this release cycle. The full list of changes that have been made for 1.4 can be found by clicking here.

*https://bugs.launchpad.net/mahara/+bugs?field.status%3Alist=FIXCOMMITTED&field.status%3Alist=FIXRELEASED&field.milestone%3Alist=64606

If you haven't had a chance to test it out yet, please do so now and report any bugs on the tracker:
  
*https://bugs.launchpad.net/mahara/+filebug
  
This is your last chance to make sure your upgrade to 1.4 will be smooth. If nothing major is reported in the next few days, we will be cutting the 1.4.0 release in about a week.

Cheers,
  
The 1.4 Release Managers