ROS 2 Iron Irwini release checklist and development progress

[gbiggs]

For an overview of the development process and an explanation of the major steps, see this page in the documentation

Pre-kickoff (during the last stage of previous release)

• Choose a ROS boss: @gbiggs -> @Yadunund
• Choose a distribution name: Iron Irwini

Development kickoff (approximately June/July)

• Create a page for the release notes
• Produce a release timeline
• Create external release checklist
• Announce roadmap

Release kickoff (approximately November-January)

• Initial REP-2000 update to set target platforms and dependencies; request feedback from community via Discourse
• Commission distribution artwork
• Commission a turtlesim icon
• Create the distribution mailing list

Mid-development cycle

• Create the detailed release plan
• Announce upcoming RMW freeze date on Discourse
• Update the Windows packages (bump Python, pinned PIP packages, Visual Studio Code, etc.)
  • Bump REP-2000
• Upgrade vendored packages to the chosen versions
• Ensure ROS 2 builds on the target platforms and all tests pass
• Freeze the RMW and announce on Discourse

Preparing for release

• Announce upcoming branch and overall API-and-feature freeze dates on Discourse
• Announce upcoming beta on Discourse
• Release all packages into Rolling
• Branch from Rolling
  • Add Iron Irwini source branches in each repository
  • Create ros2.repos files for Iron Irwini, one for the release and one for development
• Add Iron Irwini to rosdistro
• Add Iron Irwini to ci.ros2.org
• Add Iron Irwini to build.ros2.org
  • Enable jobs on build.ros2.org
• Add Iron Irwini to the documentation as a selectable version
  • Add/update installation pages
• Add Iron Irwini to ROS Index
• Build interim tarballs for testing
• Announce the branch and beta on Discourse
• Create matrix for tracking manual testing

Release week

• Announce the artwork on Discourse
• Launch the T-shirt campaign
• Final preparations for the release
  • Get documentation PR ready
  • Get release ros2/ros2 repos file ready
  • Build all packaging jobs
  • Draft PR to update release status on ros/rosdistro
  • Prepare the Discourse post

Release day

• Merge PR and make a tag at ros2/ros2
• Create a release and upload the packaging job artifacts
• Sync the debian packages to main
• Verify that the packages were uploaded to OSU
• Merge rosdistro PR and make a tag
• Update release status on rosdistro
• Announce the release on Discourse
  • Note that Rolling will soon transition to the next Ubuntu LTS
• Create Iron Irwini Docker images
• Close this checklist
• Close the project board

[Yadunund]

Iron is released!