Release Checklist

6.1 Release Tasks

1. Update gnulib to latest version

   Must occur first as it could resolve existing, or create new, bug reports

   Done. You should run bootstrap in the source tree after updating to the new gnulib version.

   Completion Date:

2. File bug reports for all outstanding bugs known, but not reported
   • Put out a general call for reports on Octave-Maintainers and Octave-Help list

   Completion Date:

3. Review patch tracker/bug list for any patches submitted that may be included before release

   Completion Date:

4. Identify Bugs which must be fixed prior to release
   • Review bugs on tracker for possible inclusion in list
   • Review bugs and update to correct category, such as Patch submitted

   Completion Date:

5. Clear all bugs identified as must-fix
   • See 6.1 Release Bug Fix List

   Completion Date:

6. GPL License activities
   • Update Copyright statements for all source controlled files
   • Update dates in any other locations (launch message, citation, MXE files, etc.)
   • Add any new contributors to contributors.in

   Completion Date:

7. Style-check code base
   • This will produce lots of whitespace changes, but no behavior changes
   • Must occur after patches have been added since whitespace changes can prevent patches from applying
   • m-file style check. Completion Date:
   • C++ style check. Completion Date:
8. Run lint checker on code base
   • Possibilities include compiling with -fsanitize=undefined and running 'make check', cppcheck, etc.
   • PVS static analyzer results PVS static analyzer - 5.0 Release
   • Compile with -fsanitize=undefined and run 'make check'

   Completion Date:

9. Verify 'make check' is passing on all buildbot combinations of OS and compilers
   • Start discussion on octave-maintainers list about which failing tests must be fixed
   • Identify and fix any tests determined critical in step above

   Completion Date:

10. Compile and run Octave test suite with --enable-address-sanitizer-flags to check for memory leaks

    Completion Date:

11. Review documentation
    • Grammar check documentation so that it conforms to Octave standards
    • Spell check documentation
    • Verify no functions missing from manual
    • Verify deprecated functions removed from "see also" links
    • Verify all formats (Info, HTML, pdf) build correctly
    • Review NEWS for any features which should be announced
    • Update major version number in "@subtitle Edition XXX" in octave.texi

    Completion Date:

12. Localization and Internationalization
    • Update language translation files (*.ts)
    • Create issue report on Savannah as a centralized location for uploading files
    • Submit call for translations for GUI strings
    • Push translations provided by translators

    Completion Date:

13. Update shared library and oct file API version numbers
    • Increment oct file API version number (configure.ac:OCTAVE_API_VERSION, increment number and drop "+" suffix)
    • Increment libtool versioning (liboctave/module.mk:%canon_reldir%_%canon_reldir%_current, libinterp/module.mk:%canon_reldir%_liboctinterp_current, libgui/module.mk:%canon_reldir%_liboctgui_current)

    Completion Date:

14. Verify build process and create release candidates
    • Update configure.ac with new version information
      • Update AC_INIT, OCTAVE_MAJOR_VERSION, OCTAVE_MINOR_VERSION, OCTAVE_PATCH_VERSION, OCTAVE_RELEASE_DATE
    • Verify 'make distcheck' passes
    • Create release candidate
      • 'make dist'
      • hg tag repository with release candidate ID
      • For Windows, create installer Windows Installer
      • Upload release candidate
      • Add release candidate version to Savannah bug tracker
      • Announce release candidate to Octave-Maintainers, Octave-Help, on web page
      • Repeat release candidate cycle until clean

    Completion Date:

15. Final Release
    • Update version information
      • Update configure.ac (AC_INIT, OCTAVE_MAJOR_VERSION, OCTAVE_MINOR_VERSION, OCTAVE_PATCH_VERSION, OCTAVE_RELEASE_DATE)
      • Update NEWS (final release date)
      • Update CITATION (version, year, URL)
      • Update org.octave.Octave.appdata.xml (version number and release date)
    • hg tag repository with release version number
    • merge default onto stable to become the current stable release
    • Savannah bug tracker version info
      • add new release version to bug tracker
      • remove release candidate versions from bug tracker
    • Announce final release on
      • Octave mailing lists
      • Octave web site
      • This wiki

    Completion Date:

16. Post-Release
    • Update configure.ac (AC_INIT, OCTAVE_MAJOR_VERSION, OCTAVE_MINOR_VERSION, OCTAVE_PATCH_VERSION) to next release cycle
    • Update oct file API version number (configure.ac:OCTAVE_API_VERSION, add "+" suffix)
    • Remove all deprecated functions (either OCTAVE_DEPRECATED in C++ or scripts/deprecated for m-files) scheduled for deletion in default branch
    • Move NEWS file to backup in etc/NEWS.X
    • Create new NEWS file

    Completion Date: