Merge pull request #2761 from headlamp-k8s/release-guide

docs: release-guide.md: Add release-guide.md doc

Author: illume

docs/development/release-guide.md

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+---
+title: Release Guide
+sidebar_position: 6
+---
+
+This document describes how to perform a Headlamp release.
+
+The idea is that we list the steps here as a guide and automate it along the way, so the number of steps is reduced as much as possible in the future.
+
+## Version bumping
+
+We follow the [semantic versioning](https://semver.org/) guide.
+
+## Steps to perform a Headlamp release  
+
+When ready to perform a release (changes worth releasing since last time is done, QA is done), then:
+
+### 1. Create a new branch
+
+Create a new branch called "rc-X.Y.Z" where X.Y.Z is the new release version.
+
+### 2. Bump the app “version”
+
+On the main branch, bump the “version” field in app/package.json, run "npm i" inside app/ and commit with:
+
+```shell
+git commit app/package* -m "app: Bump version to X.Y.Z"
+```
+
+Bug fix: make a branch off the tag, and cherry pick everything in. Or make a branch off main and remove merge commits compared to previous tag (On the branch to remove merge commits, do: "`git rebase main`").
+
+```shell
+git log v0.25.0.. --oneline
+```
+
+
+
+### 3. Start a release draft
+
+Start a release draft by manually running the "Create release draft" action (it's important to give it the right release name as it creates links with that number in the draft):
+
+![Release Version](release-version.png)
+
+### 4. Check the list of changes since the last release
+
+Check the list of changes since the last release:
+
+```
+git log \`git describe \--abbrev=0\`..
+```
+
+Then go to the release draft created in the previous step and fill it accordingly.
+
+Look at previous releases. Write for humans: no context part, like "frontend:". Put github user name in "(thanks @XXX )" at end of line for external contributors.
+
+
+### 5. App signing
+
+The build scripts handle app signing.
+
+### 6. Generate Apps
+
+Generate the apps for each the Linux, Windows, and Mac platforms by running the "Build and upload PLATFORM artifact" actions against the "rc-X.Y.Z".
+
+### 7. Download and test Artifacts
+
+Download the artifacts, test them and, if everything goes well, upload them to the new release's assets area.
+
+### 8. Push Assets
+
+Upload the binary to the release's assets with the script.
+
+Run the push-assets.js script for pushing assets. This script pushes the assets and automatically sets the right type for them. It also updates and uploads a checksums file:
+
+```shell
+   GITHUB_TOKEN=MY_TOKEN_123 node ./app/scripts/push-release-assets.js v0.19.0 Headlamp....tar.gz
+```
+
+Note: If you use the gh command line tool, you can use `gh auth token`. To create a new GITHUB_TOKEN, see the document [Managing your personal access tokens](https://docs.github.com/en/authentication/keeping-your-account-and-data-secure/managing-your-personal-access-tokens).
+
+
+### 9. Push the new tag
+
+Go to the main branch and merge the rc-X.Y.Z in, then tag the branch (notice the **v** before the version number):
+
+```shell
+git tag vX.Y.Z \-a \-m “Release X.Y.Z”
+```
+
+
+Push the new release commit and tags:
+
+Note: DO NOT RUN THIS BELOW EXCEPT ON NEW FEATURE RELEASES.
+
+```shell
+git checkout main
+
+git merge rc-X.Y.X \# (this should NOT create a merge commit since the bump commit is the only difference)
+
+git push origin main
+
+git push \--tags
+```
+
+### 10. Container images and distribution channels (flathub, homebrew)
+
+Container images are built automatically on every tag creation and pushed to the GitHub Container Registry (ghcr.io).
+
+Other distribution channels like flathub, homebrew, minikube, will be done by automatically opened PRs.
+
+### 11. Announce on social media
+
+Ask someone in the social team (Joaquim or Chris) to toot/tweet/post about it from the social media accounts.