doc: document node-api version process

PR-URL: #47972
Fixes: #47664
Reviewed-By: Rafael Gonzaga <rafael.nunu@hotmail.com>
Reviewed-By: Michael Dawson <midawson@redhat.com>
Reviewed-By: Gabriel Schulhof <gabrielschulhof@gmail.com>

doc/contributing/releases-node-api.md

@@ -0,0 +1,224 @@
+# Node.js Node-API version release process
+
+This document describes the technical aspects of the Node.js Node-API version
+release process.
+
+## Table of contents
+
+* [How to create a release](#how-to-create-a-release)
+  * [0. Pre-release steps](#0-pre-release-steps)
+  * [1. Update the main branch](#1-update-the-main-branch)
+  * [2. Create a new branch for the release](#2-create-a-new-branch-for-the-release)
+  * [3. Update `NAPI_VERSION`](#3-update-napi_version)
+  * [4. Define `addon_context_register_func`](#4-define-addon_context_register_func)
+  * [5. Update version guards](#5-update-version-guards)
+  * [6. Create release commit](#6-create-release-commit)
+  * [7. Propose release on GitHub](#7-propose-release-on-github)
+  * [8. Ensure that the release branch is stable](#8-ensure-that-the-release-branch-is-stable)
+  * [9. Land the release](#9-land-the-release)
+  * [10. Backport the release](#10-backport-the-release)
+
+## How to create a release
+
+Notes:
+
+* Version strings are listed below as _"vx"_ or _"x"_. Substitute for
+  the release version.
+* Examples will use the integer release version `10`.
+
+### 0. Pre-release steps
+
+Before preparing a Node.js Node-API version release, the Node-API Working Group
+must be notified at least one business day in advance of the expected release.
+
+Node-API Working Group can be contacted best by opening up an issue on the
+[abi-stable-node issue tracker][].
+
+### 1. Update the main Branch
+
+Checkout the staging branch locally.
+
+```console
+$ git remote update
+$ git checkout main
+$ git reset --hard upstream/main
+```
+
+If the staging branch is not up to date relative to `main`, bring the
+appropriate PRs and commits into it.
+
+### 2. Create a new branch for the release
+
+Create a new branch named `node-api-x-proposal`, off the main branch.
+
+```console
+$ git checkout -b node-api-10-proposal upstream/main
+```
+
+### 3. Update `NAPI_VERSION`
+
+Set the version for the proposed release using the following macros, which are
+already defined in `src/node_version.h`:
+
+```c
+#define NAPI_VERSION x
+```
+
+> Note: Do not update the `NAPI_VERSION` defined in `src/js_native_api.h`. It
+> is a fixed constant baseline version of Node-API.
+
+### 4. Define `addon_context_register_func`
+
+For each new version of Node-API an `else if` case must be added to
+`get_node_api_context_register_func` in `src/node_api.cc` and the numeric
+literal used in the `static_assert` statement in that function must be updated
+to the new Node-API version.
+
+### 5. Update version guards
+
+#### Step 1. Update define version guards
+
+If this release includes new Node-APIs that were first released in this
+version, the relevant commits should already include the `NAPI_EXPERIMENTAL`
+define guards on the declaration of the new Node-API. Check for these guards
+with:
+
+```console
+grep NAPI_EXPERIMENTAL src/js_native_api{_types,}.h src/node_api{_types,}.h
+```
+
+and update the define version guards with the release version:
+
+```diff
+- #ifdef NAPI_EXPERIMENTAL
++ #if NAPI_VERSION >= 10
+
+  NAPI_EXTERN napi_status NAPI_CDECL
+  node_api_function(napi_env env);
+
+- #endif  // NAPI_EXPERIMENTAL
++ #endif  // NAPI_VERSION >= 10
+```
+
+Also, update the Node-API version value of the `napi_get_version` test in
+`test/js-native-api/test_general/test.js` with the release version `x`:
+
+```diff
+  // Test version management functions
+- assert.strictEqual(test_general.testGetVersion(), 9);
++ assert.strictEqual(test_general.testGetVersion(), 10);
+```
+
+#### Step 2. Update runtime version guards
+
+If this release includes runtime behavior version guards, the relevant commits
+should already include `NAPI_VERSION_EXPERIMENTAL` guard for the change. Check
+for these guards with:
+
+```console
+grep NAPI_VERSION_EXPERIMENTAL src/js_native_api_v8* src/node_api.cc
+```
+
+and substitute this guard version with the release version `x`.
+
+#### Step 3. Update test version guards
+
+If this release includes add-on tests for the new Node-APIs, the relevant
+commits should already include `NAPI_EXPERIMENTAL` definition for the tests.
+Check for these definitions with:
+
+```console
+grep NAPI_EXPERIMENTAL test/node-api/*/{*.{h,c},binding.gyp} test/js-native-api/*/{*.{h,c},binding.gyp}
+```
+
+and substitute the `NAPI_EXPERIMENTAL` with the release version
+`NAPI_VERSION x`;
+
+```diff
+- #define NAPI_EXPERIMENTAL
++ #define NAPI_VERSION 10
+```
+
+#### Step 4. Update document
+
+If this release includes new Node-APIs that were first released in this
+version and are necessary to document, the relevant commits should already
+have documented the new Node-API.
+
+For all Node-API functions and types with define guards updated in Step 1,
+in `doc/api/n-api.md`, add the `napiVersion: x` metadata to the Node-API types
+and functions that are released in the version, and remove the experimental
+stability banner:
+
+```diff
+  #### node_api_function
+  <!-- YAML
+  added:
+    - v1.2.3
++ napiVersion: 10
+  -->
+
+- > Stability: 1 - Experimental
+```
+
+#### Step 5. Update change history
+
+If this release includes new Node-APIs runtime version guards that were first
+released in this version and are necessary to document, the relevant commits
+should already have documented the new behavior in a "Change History" section.
+
+For all runtime version guards updated in Step 2, check for these definitions
+with:
+
+```console
+grep NAPI_EXPERIMENTAL doc/api/n-api.md
+```
+
+In `doc/api/n-api.md`, update the `experimental` change history item to be the
+released version `x`:
+
+```diff
+  Change History:
+
+- * experimental (`NAPI_EXPERIMENTAL` is defined):
++ * version 10:
+```
+
+### 6. Create release commit
+
+When committing these to git, use the following message format:
+
+```text
+node-api: define version x
+```
+
+### 7. Propose release on GitHub
+
+Create a pull request targeting the `main` branch. These PRs should be left
+open for at least 24 hours, and can be updated as new commits land.
+
+If you need any additional information about any of the commits, this PR is a
+good place to @-mention the relevant contributors.
+
+Tag the PR with the `notable-change` label, and @-mention the GitHub team
+@nodejs/node-api and @nodejs/node-api-implementer.
+
+### 8. Ensure that the release branch is stable
+
+Run a **[`node-test-pull-request`](https://ci.nodejs.org/job/node-test-pull-request/)**
+test run to ensure that the build is stable and the HEAD commit is ready for
+release.
+
+### 9. Land the release
+
+See the steps documented in [Collaborator Guide - Landing a PR][] to land the
+PR.
+
+### 10. Backport the release
+
+Consider backporting the release to all LTS versions following the steps
+documented in the [backporting guide][].
+
+[Collaborator Guide - Landing a PR]: ./collaborator-guide.md#landing-pull-requests
+[abi-stable-node issue tracker]: https://github.com/nodejs/abi-stable-node/issues
+[backporting guide]: backporting-to-release-lines.md