NAME¶
release_method - Release Numbering and Methodology
Release Version Numbering Scheme¶
Release numbers consist of three parts, a major number, a minor number, and a
revision number, each separated by a dot.
The major number is currently 1 (and has always been). It will only be bumped in
case a new version offers a major change in the API that is not backwards
compatible.
In the past (up to 1.6.x), even minor numbers have been used to indicate
'stable' releases, and odd minor numbers have been reserved for development
branches/versions. As the latter has never really been used, and maintaining a
stable branch that eventually became effectively the same as the development
version has proven to be just a cumbersome and tedious job, this scheme has
given up in early 2010, so starting with 1.7.0, every minor number will be
used. Minor numbers will be bumped upon judgement of the development team,
whenever it seems appropriate, but at least in cases where some API was
changed.
Starting with version 1.4.0, a file <
avr/version.h> indicates the
library version of an installed library tree.
Releasing AVR Libc¶
The information in this section is only relevant to AVR Libc developers and can
be ignored by end users.
Note:
In what follows, I assume you know how to use SVN and how
to checkout multiple source trees in a single directory without having them
clobber each other. If you don't know how to do this, you probably shouldn't
be making releases or cutting branches.
Creating an SVN branch¶
The following steps should be taken to cut a branch in SVN (assuming $username
is set to your savannah username):
- 1.
- Check out a fresh source tree from SVN trunk.
- 2.
- Update the NEWS file with pending release number and commit to SVN trunk:
Change Changes since avr-libc-<last_release>: to Changes in
avr-libc-<this_relelase>.
- 3.
- Set the branch-point tag (setting <major> and <minor>
accordingly):
svn copy svn+ssh://$username@svn.savannah.nongnu.org/avr-libc/trunk
svn+ssh://$username@svn.savannah.nongnu.org/avr-libc/tags/avr-libc-<
major>_<minor>-branchpoint
- 4.
- Create the branch:
svn copy svn+ssh://$username@svn.savannah.nongnu.org/avr-libc/trunk
svn+ssh://$username@svn.savannah.nongnu.org/avr-libc/branches/avr-libc-<
major>_<minor>-branch
- 5.
- Update the package version in configure.ac and commit configure.ac to SVN
trunk:
Change minor number to next odd value.
- 6.
- Update the NEWS file and commit to SVN trunk:
Add Changes since avr-libc-<this_release>:
- 7.
- Check out a new tree for the branch:
svn co
svn+ssh://$username@svn.savannah.nongnu.org/avr-libc/branches/avr-libc-<
major>_<minor>-branch
- 8.
- Update the package version in configure.ac and commit configure.ac to SVN
branch:
Change the patch number to 90 to denote that this now a branch leading up
to a release. Be sure to leave the <date> part of the version.
- 9.
- Bring the build system up to date by running bootstrap and configure.
- 10.
- Perform a 'make distcheck' and make sure it succeeds. This will create the
snapshot source tarball. This should be considered the first release
candidate.
- 11.
- Upload the snapshot tarball to savannah.
- 12.
- Update the bug tracker interface on Savannah: Bugs ---> Edit field
values ---> Release / Fixed Release
- 13.
- Announce the branch and the branch tag to the avr-libc-dev list so other
developers can checkout the branch.
Making a release¶
A stable release will only be done on a branch, not from the SVN trunk.
The following steps should be taken when making a release:
- 1.
- Make sure the source tree you are working from is on the correct branch:
svn switch
svn+ssh://$username@svn.savannah.nongnu.org/avr-libc/branches/avr-libc-<
major>_<minor>-branch
- 2.
- Update the package version in configure.ac and commit it to SVN.
- 3.
- Update the gnu tool chain version requirements in the README and commit to
SVN.
- 4.
- Update the ChangeLog file to note the release and commit to SVN on the
branch:
Add Released avr-libc-<this_release>.
- 5.
- Update the NEWS file with pending release number and commit to SVN:
Change Changes since avr-libc-<last_release>: to Changes in
avr-libc-<this_relelase>:.
- 6.
- Bring the build system up to date by running bootstrap and configure.
- 7.
- Perform a 'make distcheck' and make sure it succeeds. This will create the
source tarball.
- 8.
- Tag the release:
svn copy .
svn+ssh://$username@svn.savannah.nongnu.org/avr-libc/tags/avr-libc-<
major>_<minor>_<patch>-release
or
svn copy
svn+ssh://$username@svn.savannah.nongnu.org/avr-libc/branches/avr-libc-<
major>_<minor>-branch
svn+ssh://$username@svn.savannah.nongnu.org/avr-libc/tags/avr-libc-<
major>_<minor>_<patch>-release
- 9.
- Upload the tarball to savannah.
- 10.
- Update the NEWS file, and commit to SVN:
Add Changes since
avr-libc-<major>_<minor>_<patch>:
- 11.
- Update the bug tracker interface on Savannah: Bugs ---> Edit field
values ---> Release / Fixed Release
- 12.
- Generate the latest documentation and upload to savannah.
- 13.
- Announce the release.
The following hypothetical diagram should help clarify version and branch
relationships.
Release treeRelease tree
