1.2. METplus Bugfix Release

Create a new vX.Y.Z bugfix release from the main_vX.Y branch.

1.2.1. Open Release Issue

  • Define a new issue in the METplus repository to create the new release.

    • “Create the METplus vX.Y.Z release” for an official or bugfix release.

    • “Create the METplus vX.Y.Z-betaN (or -rcN) release” for a development release.

  • For an official or development release, assign the issue to the current METplus development project.

  • For a bugfix release, assign the issue to the organization level support project.

  • Select the target milestone.

1.2.2. Clone the Project Repository

  • Create and work in a new directory to ensure a fresh environment:

mkdir release-X.Y.Z
cd release-X.Y.Z
  • Run the clone command to obtain the repository.

Using SSH:

git clone git@github.com:dtcenter/METplus

Using HTTP:

git clone https://github.com/dtcenter/METplus
  • Enter the project repository directory:

cd METplus

1.2.3. Checkout the Main Branch

Checkout the main branch for the X.Y release. If you are creating the METplus-X.Y.Z bugfix release, checkout main_vX.Y.

git checkout main_vX.Y

1.2.4. Create Release Feature Branch

  • Create a feature branch in which to update the version number and add release notes being sure to include the GitHub issue number for the new release.

git checkout -b feature_NNNN_vX.Y.Z       # for an official or bugfix release
git checkout -b feature_NNNN_vX.Y.Z-betaN # for a development release
git checkout -b feature_NNNN_vX.Y.Z-rcN   # for a development release

1.2.5. Update Version Number for Release

Update the version number for the bugfix release:

  • The VERSION file is located in the metplus subdirectory.

  • If the current release is listed as X.Y.Z, the bugfix version should be X.Y.Z+1, i.e. if on 3.1.0 change to 3.1.1

1.2.6. Update Release Notes

You can refer to the GitHub Issues page to see what has changed for this release. Open the following URL in a browser:

https://github.com/dtcenter/METplus/issues
  • Click on the Projects tab and select the project (under Repository) that corresponds to the release you are creating.

  • Update the release-notes.rst file found in the User’s Guide directory.

  • Consider organizing release notes into logical groups (e.g. Enhancements, Bugfixes, Documentation, etc.) and modifying GitHub issue titles for consistency. The release notes should match the GitHub issue titles, when possible.

  • Use your best judgement to apply bold formatting for any major or important changes.

  • When creating a bugfix release, leave the “Version X.Y.0 release notes (YYYYMMDD)” in place, along with any other bugfix release notes and add a section above for the latest bugfix release (i.e. “Version X.Y.Z release notes (YYYYMMDD)”).

  • Commit changes and push to GitHub.

1.2.7. Merge Release Issue

  • After updating the release-specific content on a release feature branch, submit a pull request to merge those changes back into the source branch.

1.2.8. Create Release on GitHub

  • Go to Releases on GitHub and click ‘Draft a new release’

  • Set the tag based on the version, starting with ‘v’, i.e. vX.Y.Z-betaN, vX.Y.Z-rcN, or vX.Y.Z

  • Set the branch value to ‘develop’ for a development release or ‘main_vX.Y’ for a bugfix or official release

  • Choose a release name (i.e. METplus-X.Y.Z-betaN, METplus-X.Y.Z-rcN, or METplus-X.Y.Z)

  • Add a link to the release notes from the METplus User’s Guide, i.e. https://METplus.readthedocs.io/en/vX.Y.Z-betaN/Users_Guide/release-notes.html (Note: the URL will not be active until the release is created)

  • Add a link to the PDF of the METplus User’s Guide, if available. The PDF can be downloaded from ReadTheDocs if it is available, i.e. https://METplus.readthedocs.io/_/downloads/en/vX.Y.Z-betaN/pdf/ (Note: the URL will not be active until the release is created)

  • Add link to METplus_Data and add a note to instruct users to use sub-directory corresponding to this release, i.e. v4.0.0)

  • If this is a development release, check the box that says “This is a pre-release”

  • Click on “Publish release”.

1.2.9. Update DTC Website

  • Navigate to the downloads page for the METplus repository at https://dtcenter.org/community-code/metplus/download

  • Sign in to the Drupal interface and edit the Downloads page.

  • Create a new Software Release for the newly released version by clicking on Add New Release.

    • For Full Title of Release type “METplus Version X.Y.Z”.

    • For Related Community Code select both the METplus and the METplus Wrappers options (For Macs, hold the Command key to select both).

    • For Version Label type “METplus X.Y.Z betaN”.

    • Select the release type (Recommended for official or bugfix releases or Development for development versions).

    • Enter the release date.

    • Click on Add Code Download then click Add Link to add links for each of the following:

      • Add Link: The URL should be the release page that was just created under the GitHub Releases tab and the link text should be the name of the release (i.e. METplus X.Y.Z-betaN).

      • Add Link: Link text should be “User’s Guide” and the URL should be the top level directory of the User’s Guide hosted on the web. Beta releases can use “develop” in the URL, but for official releases, please ensure the link uses the branch name (e.g. main_vX.Y) as opposed to the tag name (e.g. vX.Y.Z). For example, use “https://metplus.readthedocs.io/en/main_vX.Y/Users_Guide/” and NOT “https://metplus.readthedocs.io/en/vX.Y.Z/Users_Guide/

      • Add Link: Link text should be “Existing Builds and Docker” and the URL should be the latest Existing Builds page, i.e. https://dtcenter.org/community-code/metplus/metplus-X-Y-existing-builds (If creating a new official release, be sure to add a new Existing Builds and Docker page, if one was not already created.)

    • Inside the text box in the “Release Notes” section provide a direct link to the release-notes.html file in the User’s Guide.

    • Click on “Create Release”.

    • Update the existing releases, as needed.

      • For a development release, change any previous Development versions to Other.

      • For a bugfix or official release, change any previous Recommended versions to Other.

      • For an official release, remove the corresponding development releases.

    • Make any other necessary website updates. For example, adding the User’s Guide to https://dtcenter.org/community-code/metplus/documentation

    • Click on “Save”.

1.2.10. Finalize Release on GitHub

  • Close the GitHub issue for creating this official release.

  • Edit the milestone for the current release by updating the Due date with the actual release date.

  • If necessary, create a new milestone for the next official release (e.g. next vX.Y.Z release).

  • If necessary, reassign any remaining issues for the current milestone to the next one.

  • Close the current milestone.

  • Confirm that all existing development projects for the current milestone are closed.

  • If necessary, create development projects for the next milestone (e.g. METplus-X.Y.Z-beta1, beta2, beta3).

  • Update the repository settings by resetting the Default branch to the new main_vX.Y branch:

https://github.com/dtcenter/METplus
-> Settings
-> Branches (tab on left)
-> change the drop down to new branch