HelenOS Release Process

Preparing the Release Files

• Use the script tools/release.sh to generate the release files
• Make sure your overlay/ directory is empty - otherwise they will be included! Ideally create a fresh clone of the source tree.
• This script requires the environment variable CROSS_PREFIX to point to cross-toolchains for all architectures
• Ideally all the cross-toolchains should be up to date (i.e. built using latest version of toolchain.sh)

Testing

• Test boot images produced by release script
  • at the very least test all that can be emulated
  • each image should boot up correctly
  • ideally ieach image should run kernel tests (# kcon / test * to completion
  • note / create tickets for any issues found
• Run all unit tests
  • unit test failure need not be a stopper for release
  • note / create tickets for any issues found

Release notes

• Go through SCM logs and make sure Release Notes are complete and up to date
• If required, consult with enhancement authors
• Note any serious issues in this release (e.g. some platform not working)

Screenshots

If appropriate, update screenshots

• In the wiki Screenshots & Screencasts page
• On the about page
• Github preview (in the source code repository)

Ticket triage

• Triage bugs that are new or marked as targeted for this release
• If not considered a stopper, retarget tickets

What's new screencast

• Ideally a What's new screencast should be prepared

Bumping the version

• Update the version and codename in the version file and commit it
• Tag the changeset with the release version and push the tag to github (git push origin tagname)
• ​http://www.helenos.org/wiki/ReleaseChecklist

Uploading the release files

• The release files should be uploaded to www.helenos.org/releases
• Links to the release files to be added to Download page
• Link to the latest ia-32 image to be added to the About page (main page)
• Add a release to ​https://github.com/HelenOS/helenos/releases including a short description and binary release files

Spreading the word

• Update main page www.helenos.org
• Update the topic of the #helenos channel at irc.freenode.org
• helenos-devel@…
• ​​https://twitter.com/HelenOSorg
• ​​https://sourceforge.net/projects/helenos/
• ​https://www.reddit.com/r/microkernel/
• ​​https://www.root.cz/ (in Czech)