RELEASE_PROCESS.md

Release Process

This document defines the official release process for all CeloHT repositories.

A standardized release process ensures that every version is secure, stable, reproducible, and transparent.

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Release Philosophy

Every release must be:

• Secure
• Stable
• Well tested
• Fully documented
• Community ready
• Reproducible

No production release should bypass the official release workflow.

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Release Types

Major Release

Example

2.0.0

Includes:

• Breaking changes
• Major new features
• Architecture improvements

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Minor Release

Example

1.4.0

Includes:

• New features
• Improvements
• Backward-compatible changes

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Patch Release

Example

1.4.2

Includes:

• Bug fixes
• Security fixes
• Documentation corrections
• Performance improvements

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Semantic Versioning

CeloHT follows Semantic Versioning.

MAJOR.MINOR.PATCH

Example

1.0.0

1.2.0

1.2.5

2.0.0

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Release Workflow

Development

↓

Feature Complete

↓

Testing

↓

Security Review

↓

Documentation Review

↓

Version Update

↓

Release Candidate

↓

Final Approval

↓

Git Tag

↓

GitHub Release

↓

Production Deployment

↓

Community Announcement

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Pre-Release Checklist

Before every release verify:

• All tests pass
• Documentation updated
• CHANGELOG updated
• Version number updated
• Security review completed
• Smart contracts verified
• Performance validated
• No critical issues remain

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Release Candidate (RC)

Large releases should first be published as Release Candidates.

Examples

v2.0.0-rc1

v2.0.0-rc2

Community feedback should be collected before final release.

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Creating a Release

Update the version.

Example

npm version minor

Commit the changes.

git add .

git commit -m "release: v1.3.0"

Create a Git tag.

git tag v1.3.0

Push commits and tags.

git push origin main --tags

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GitHub Release

Each GitHub Release should include:

• Version number
• Release date
• Summary
• New features
• Bug fixes
• Security improvements
• Breaking changes
• Upgrade instructions
• Contributors

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Release Notes Template

## Highlights

## New Features

## Improvements

## Bug Fixes

## Security

## Performance

## Documentation

## Breaking Changes

## Upgrade Instructions

## Contributors

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Documentation Requirements

Before every release:

• README updated
• Wiki updated
• API Reference updated
• Changelog updated
• Roadmap reviewed

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Smart Contract Releases

When smart contracts change:

• Compile contracts
• Run tests
• Deploy
• Verify contracts
• Publish addresses
• Update documentation

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Rollback Plan

If a critical issue is discovered:

• Stop deployment
• Restore previous stable release
• Notify the community
• Investigate the issue
• Publish a postmortem
• Prepare a corrected release

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Security Releases

Critical security fixes should:

• Be prioritized
• Receive immediate review
• Be released as soon as safely possible
• Include a public security advisory when appropriate

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Long-Term Support (LTS)

Selected versions may receive extended maintenance.

LTS releases include:

• Security updates
• Critical bug fixes
• Stability improvements

No new features are added to LTS versions.

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Supported Versions

Version	Status
Latest Stable	Supported
Previous Stable	Security Fixes Only
Older Releases	End of Life

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Community Communication

Every release should be announced through official CeloHT channels.

Announcements should include:

• Version number
• Key improvements
• Upgrade instructions
• Documentation links
• Known issues (if any)

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Continuous Improvement

After every release, maintainers should review:

• Deployment success
• Community feedback
• Bug reports
• Performance metrics
• Security findings

Lessons learned should improve future releases.

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Conclusion

A disciplined release process ensures that every CeloHT release is reliable, transparent, secure, and ready for community adoption. Consistency in releases strengthens trust and supports the long-term sustainability of the project.