Release Notes Process

Jira Tickets

You will be assigned four Jiras. Below are the Jiras and in the suggested order to work them:

  1. Create a "shell" file for the release notes
  2. Create a "placeholder" file for the release notes
  3. Review the known issues and bug fixes
  4. Update and assemble the CNV release notes

Release Note Shell File

A "shell" file will need to be created so that writers can start adding release notes. The process is essentially copying over the previous version's release note file and preparing it for the new version by:

  • Updating the release notes file name and anchor IDs
  • Removing all content under New and changed features but making sure to leave headers
  • Removing Bug fixes content
  • Removing Removed features content

This is a step by step process with commands included. Be sure to replace 4.17 and 4.18 with the versions you are working with.

Step 1. Check out the branch of the new version

git checkout enterprise-4.18
git fetch upstream

Step 2. Create a feature branch off of the enterprise branch

git checkout -b CNV-XXXX

Step 3. Rename the old version filename to the new version filename

git mv virt/release_notes/virt-4-17-release-notes.adoc virt/release_notes/virt-4-18-release-notes.adoc

Step 4. Replace all old version strings with the new version strings in the release notes file

sed -i 's/virt-4-17/virt-4-18/g' virt/release_notes/virt-4-18-release-notes.adoc

Step 5. Replace the old version string with the new version string in the _topic_map.yml file

sed -i 's/virt-4-17-release-notes/virt-4-18-release-notes/g' _topic_maps/_topic_map.yml

Step 6. Replace the old version string with the new version string in the OCP addtl-release-notes.adoc file

sed -i 's/virt-4-17-release-notes/virt-4-18-release-notes/g' release_notes/addtl-release-notes.adoc

Step 7. Remove section content from the release notes file

Remove all content under New and changed features, Bug fixes, and Removed features, while making sure to leave the section headers in place.

Step 8. Review Technology Preview features

Check whether any Technology Preview features have changed status (for example, moving from Technology Preview to General Availability). If there has been a change, update the notes accordingly. If not, leave the release note as is.

Step 9. Review Deprecated and removed features

Check whether any deprecated features have been removed. If there has been a change, update the notes accordingly. If not, leave the release note as is.

Step 10. Submit the pull request

Save all changes and submit your pull request. Only merge review from the CNV team is necessary.

Example PR: Link

Release Note Placeholder File

For builds and tests to be successful in your GitHub pull request, you must open a separate PR to add a placeholder release notes file to the main branch. This is a step by step process with commands included. Be sure to replace 4.18 with the version you are working on.

Step 1. Check out the branch of the new version

git checkout main
git fetch upstream

Step 2. Create a feature branch off of the main branch

git checkout -b CNV-XXXX

Step 3. Create a new placeholder file with the new version name

touch virt/release_notes/virt-4-18-release-notes.adoc

Step 4. Place the contents below into that file and save it

:_mod-docs-content-type: ASSEMBLY
[id="virt-4-18-release-notes"]
= {VirtProductName} release notes
include::_attributes/common-attributes.adoc[]
:context: virt-4-18-release-notes

toc::[]

Do not add or edit release notes here. Edit release notes directly in the branch
that they are relevant for.

This file is here to allow builds to work.

Step 5. Save all changes and submit your pull request

Only merge review from the CNV team is necessary.

Example PR: Link

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