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bin/curl/docs/RELEASE-PROCEDURE.md

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+curl release procedure - how to do a release
+============================================
+
+in the source code repo
+-----------------------
+
+- edit `RELEASE-NOTES` to be accurate
+
+- update `docs/THANKS`
+
+- make sure all relevant changes are committed on the master branch
+
+- tag the git repo in this style: `git tag -a curl-7_34_0`. -a annotates the
+  tag and we use underscores instead of dots in the version number. Make sure
+  the tag is GPG signed (using -s).
+
+- run "./maketgz 7.34.0" to build the release tarballs. It is important that
+  you run this on a machine with the correct set of autotools etc installed
+  as this is what then will be shipped and used by most users on \*nix like
+  systems.
+
+- push the git commits and the new tag
+
+- gpg sign the 4 tarballs as maketgz suggests
+
+- upload the 8 resulting files to the primary download directory
+
+in the curl-www repo
+--------------------
+
+- edit `Makefile` (version number and date),
+
+- edit `_newslog.html` (announce the new release) and
+
+- edit `_changes.html` (insert changes+bugfixes from RELEASE-NOTES)
+
+- commit all local changes
+
+- tag the repo with the same name as used for the source repo.
+
+- make sure all relevant changes are committed and pushed on the master branch
+
+  (the web site then updates its contents automatically)
+
+on github
+---------
+
+- edit the newly made release tag so that it is listed as the latest release
+
+inform
+------
+
+- send an email to curl-users, curl-announce and curl-library. Insert the
+  RELEASE-NOTES into the mail.
+
+celebrate
+---------
+
+- suitable beverage intake is encouraged for the festivities
+
+curl release scheduling
+=======================
+
+Basics
+------
+
+We do releases every 8 weeks on Wednesdays. If critical problems arise, we can
+insert releases outside of the schedule or we can move the release date - but
+this is very rare.
+
+Each 8 week release cycle is split in two 4-week periods.
+
+- During the first 4 weeks after a release, we allow new features and changes
+  to curl and libcurl. If we accept any such changes, we bump the minor number
+  used for the next release.
+
+- During the second 4-week period we do not merge any features or changes, we
+  then only focus on fixing bugs and polishing things to make a solid coming
+  release.
+
+Coming dates
+------------
+
+Based on the description above, here are some planned release dates (at the
+time of this writing):
+
+- May 22, 2019
+- July 17, 2019
+- September 11, 2019
+- November 6, 2019
+- January 8, 2020 (moved)
+- February 27, 2020
+- April 22, 2020
+- June 17, 2020
+
+The above (and more) curl-related dates are published in
+[iCalendar format](https://calendar.google.com/calendar/ical/c9u5d64odop9js55oltfarjk6g%40group.calendar.google.com/public/basic.ics)
+as well.