# Release process for Subplot

The Subplot project consists of several crates. They can be released
independently from each other. However, there is only one `NEWS.md`
file with release notes, and only one set of Debian packaging (only
the binaries and template resources are packaged). The crates are,
currently:

- `subplot-build`
- `subplotlib-derive`
- `subplotlib`
- `subplot`

To find all crates, run the following at the root of the source tree:

~~~sh
git ls-files | grep Cargo.toml
~~~

Run these at the root of the source tree, and either fix anything
that's found, or at least report it on the issue tracker:

1. `cargo audit`
2. `cargo deny --workspace check`

Do these for each crate, with leaf crates in the dependency tree
first:

1. Check that the dependency versions on any other Subplot crates are
   correct.
2. Run `cargo update` and `cargo outdated` for the crate, and make any
   needed updates.
3. Review changes in the crate (`git log -p .` in the crate's
   sub-directory). Update the top level `NEWS.md` with any changes
   that users of Subplot need to be aware of.
4. Update the crate's `Cargo.toml` with the appropriate version number
   for the new release, if there's been any changes. If any of the
   other crates depend on this crate, update their dependency
   information in their `Cargo.toml` as needed.
5. Run `cargo publish --dry-run --allow-dirty` and fix any problems.

For the top crate `subplot` additionally do the following:

1. Run `./check` and fix anything that needs fixing to make it finish
   successfully.
2. Update `NEWS.md` with an end-user oriented summary of the changes
   in all crates since the previous release, if there are any.
   Particularly check the [Fixed in next version][fixedstuff] issues
   against the NEWS.
3. Update `debian/changelog` with a summary of any changes to the
   Debian packaging. Use the `dch` command to edit the file to get the
   format right: `dch -v X.Y.Z-1 "New release"` to start a new
   version, `dch "foo bar"` to add a new bullet point to a version,
   and `dch -r ""` to mark the version as ready for release.
4. Commit the changes in all crates and submit as a merge request via
   GitLab.
   Ensure the MR contains references to close all of the
   [Fixed in next version][fixedstuff] issues so that all the issue
   authors get notified of the release.

[fixedstuff]: https://gitlab.com/subplot/subplot/-/issues?label_name[]=fixed-in-next-version

Once the above changes have been merged, make the actual release (note
that these steps are meant to be possible to automate, later on, and
require no review cycle):

1. Pull down the above changes from GitLab.
2. Create a signed, annotated, git tag `X.Y.Z` for version `X.Y.Z` of
   the Subplot project (`git tag -sam "Subplot release X.Y.Z" X.Y.Z`).
   We don't tag releases of the other crates.
3. Run `git push --tags gitlab` to push the tag to Gitlab. Replace
   `gitlab` with whatever name you use in git for the remote that is
   gitlab.com.
4. Run `cargo publish` in any crates that have changed since the
   previous release, from the leaves toward the root.
5. Ask Lars or Daniel to pull the tag from GitLab and push it to
   `git.liw.fi` so that a Debian package gets built and published.
6. Announce our jubilation to the world via blog posts and other
   suitable channels.
   - fediverse, with #subplot hashtag
   - Subplot website blog
   - personal blogs