[llvm-dev] RFC: Release process changes

[Philip Reames via llvm-dev]

All of this sounds reasonable to me, but we don't directly follow the 
upstream release cadence so I'm an interested observer at most.

Philip

On 5/21/20 11:59 AM, Tom Stellard via llvm-dev wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I would like to propose a few changes to the LLVM release process.  The
> current process is documented here:  https://llvm.org/docs/HowToReleaseLLVM.html
>
> There are two parts to this proposal.  The first is a list of clarifications,
> which are things we are currently doing that aren't documented. The second
> is a list of changes which would actually modify how releases are currently
> managed.
>
>
>
> *** Proposed Clarifications ***
>
>
>
> **  Release manager is allowed to commit changes to the release branch without
>      code owner approval.  However, the release manager is encouraged to consult
>      with code owners or patch reviewers for non-trivial changes.
>
> It's not practical to get code owner approval every time.  Either because there
> is no code owner or because the number of backports is too high (e.g. pre-rc1 / pre-rc2).
> This proposed clarification matches how releases are currently managed.
>
>
> ** There is no official release criteria.
>
> We have time-based releases and when the release is 'ready' has been
> up to the discretion of the release manager.  Changing the release
> criteria is out of the scope of this proposal, but I do think it would
> be good to have a discussion about this as a community, so I'm going to
> start a separate thread to discuss this.
>
>
>
> *** Proposed Changes ***
>
>
>
> ** Create a time-based bug-fix release schedule.  After each major release, make
>     a new bug-fix release every 2 weeks for 12 weeks (6 releases total).
>
> ** Eliminate release candidates for bug-fix releases.
>
> The current unofficial bug-fix release schedule is:
>
> X.Y.1-rc1 (6 weeks after major release)
> X.Y.1-rc2 (10 weeks after major release)
> X.Y.1-final (12 weeks after major release)
>
> I think this change will improve the overall test coverage of the release branch.
> I don't think the branch itself or even the release candidates get the same
> level of testing as the final releases.  If we are consistently snapshotting
> the release branch and putting out releases, I think this will make it easier
> and thus more likely that users will test out the release branch code.
>
> Additionally, with more frequent bug-fix release it removes the need to have
> release candidate releases. Every bug-fix release (up until the last one)
> would serve the same purpose as our current release candidates in that they
> are intended to give users an easier way to test the code before the final
> release.
>
>
> ** Create clear rules for what kind of backports are accepted during each
>     release phase.
>
> * Before RC1:Patches should be limited to bug fixes, important optimization
>    improvements, or completion of features that were started before the branch
>    was created.  As with all phases, release managers and code owners can reject
>    patches that are deemed too invasive.
>
> * Before RC2: Patches should be limited to bug fixes or backend specific
>    improvements that are determined to be very safe.
>
> * Before RC3/Final: Major Release* Patches should be limited to critical
>    bugs or regressions.
>   
> * Bug fix releases: Patches should be limited to bug fixes or very safe
>    and critical performance improvements.  Patches must maintain both API and
>    ABI compatibility with the previous major release.
>   
> * Final bug fix release: Patches should be limited to critical bug fixes only.
>
>
>
> What does everyone thing about these changes?
>
>
> -Tom
>
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