[1.35] Release Comms Subteam Cycle Progress #2877
Description
Note
This ticket follows the Release Team Lead Cycle Progress ticket, and is curated for Comms specific actions and plans. More of release information can be found in /releases/release-1.35/README.md.
This ticket is based on the previous issue used in v1.34, and it is planned to be updated along during the whole release cycle.
Overview
Comms Team Plan and Deadlines
Note
This plan may be subject to change over time.
You can find the plan in the v1.35 Release Comms Calendar too
- Release Enhancements Freeze (week 5 - 16/10/2025)
- Release Feature Blog First opt-in reach out
- start: week 6 - 20/10/2025
- ends: week 6 - 24/10/2025
- Release Feature Second opt-in reach out
- start: week 6 - 27/10/2025
- end: week 7 - 29/10/2025 (two days before feature blog freeze)
- Feature Blog Freeze (week 7 - 31/10/2025)
- [OPTIONAL] Release Mid-Cycle Blog content scouting
- start: week 7 - 27/10/2025
- end: week 7 - 31/10/2025
- Release Highlights opening discussion and outreach
- start: week 8 - 02/11/2025 (a day before the deadline)
- end: week 8 - 06/11/2025
- Release Highlight planning issue (week 8 - 06/11/2025)
- [OPTIONAL] Mid-Cycle Blog draft (week 8 - 03/11/2025)
- [OPTIONAL] Mid-Cycle Blog confirmation deadline (week 8 - 07/11/2025)
- Release Highlights Deadline (week 8 - 07/11/2025)
- Release Feature Blog ready for review reminder
- start: week 9 - 12/11/2025
- end: week 10 - 19/11/2025 (two days before feature blog ready for review deadline)
- Release Highlights second out reach / reminder
- start: week 10 - 17/11/2025
- end: week 10 - 20/11/2025 (8 days before the release highlights deadline)
- [OPTIONAL] Mid-Cycle Blog Ready for Review (week 10 - 19/11/2025)
- Release Feature Blog ready for review deadline (week 10 - 21/11/2025)
- Release Feature Blog publication calendar ready (week 11 - 26/11/2025)
- Release Feature Blog Start Review (week 11 - 26/11/2025)
- [OPTIONAL] Mid-Cycle Blog Published (week 11 - 26/11/2025)
- Release Highlights Completion Deadline (week 11 - 28/11/2025)
- Release Announcement draft (week 12 - 01/12/2025)
- Release Feature Blog Start Scheduling (week 13 - 09/12/2025)
- Release Announcement Ready for review (week 13 - 10/12/2025)
- Release announcement published (week 14 - 17/12/2025)
Latest Update
As of Wednesday, 07th October (week 4)
- Shadows were added to the appropriate mailing lists.
- Shadow on-boarding is completed.
- Comms team deadline and plan is confirmed by Lead and Lead Shadows.
Currently Tracked Goals
- Feature Blogs
- Opt-in Outreach
- Mid Cycle Sneak Peek Blog
- Internal write-up
- Official PR
- Release Announcements
- Release Highlights
- Internal write-up
- Official PR
- Webinar and Press
- Schedule with CNCF
- Coordinate interview setup with press
- Hold webinar
Useful Links
- v1.35 Schedule and Information
- Templates for various reach-out / drafts
- Enhancement Tracking Board
- Mid Cycle Blog:
- Release Highlight
- Kubernetes v1.35 Release Highlights contact issue: Kubernetes v1.35 Release Highlights contact #2904
- Kubernetes v1.35 Release Highlights discussion: Kubernetes v1.35 Release Highlights #2903
- Previous Release Highlights contact issue
- Previous Release Highlights discussion
- Release Announcement
Schedule and Details
Week 1, 2, 3: Onboarding and planning
Comms work tend to focus more towards the latter half of the release schedule, and thus this is the time to prepare for the team setup.
For Lead
- With the release schedule finalized, complete the Comms progress issue by listing all weeks in the release and their tasks
- Onboard the shadows
- Select the shadows
- Prepare the onboarding presentation
- Run down Comms expectation in a meeting
- Provide all the relevant information for the action items for the shadows
- Update contact details for the shadows in the release contact sheet
- Update the
k/org's /config/kubernetes/sig-release/teams.yaml- This gives access to the Comms Project Board
- We need the lead and shadows to be listed as milestone maintainers
- Add the the team member Add v1.35 Comms shadows to milestone-maintainers and release-team-comms org#5924
- Setup Comms Project Board
- Copy prior project
- Adjust the filter setup so that we can track both Feature Blogs as well as overall enhancements
- Align column values with the new Comms team members
For Shadows
Tip
Although many actions need to be handled by the shadows themselves, it is important for the lead to guide to the right information and material for proceeding with them.
- Create membership request issue in
k/org(if not already members) - Sign the CLA
- Subscribe to the Kubernetes release calendar
- Join the Slack channels related to Release Teams
- #sig-release
- #sig-docs
- #sig-docs-blog
- #release-comms
- Also, there are other Release related channels worth joining
- Schedule and attend the mandatory shadow orientation (general)
- Schedule and attend the Comms shadow onboarding
Status Summary / Note for Reference
Week 4, 5, 6, 7: Tracking
Tracking starts as the enhancement freeze comes into play. For v1.54, the Enhancements Freeze takes place on week 5 (16/10/2025).
For Lead
- Have a clear picture of what to expect with Release Lead and other Subteam Leads
- List all major changes to be included in this release with the Release Lead and Enhancements Lead
- List most noteworthy deliverables post-Enhancements freeze with Enhancements and Docs Leads
- Work with the Release Team and decide if the release warrants a Mid Cycle Blog
- Prepare for Feature Blog opt-in reach-out
- Send shadows instructions on how to reach out to KEP authors for Feature Blog opt-in
- Prepare the Comms board with Feature Blog opt-in reach-out assignees
- With Enhancement freeze in effect (in week 5 16/10/2025), prepare for Release Highlights
- Create a GitHub Discussion: Kubernetes v1.35 Release Highlights #2903
- Create a GitHub Issue: Kubernetes v1.35 Release Highlights contact #2904
For Lead and Shadow
- Start reaching out for Feature Blog opt-in for each KEP
- Complete the first round of reach-out
- Complete the second round of reach-out
- Reach out to all SIGs for their input on Release Highlights
- The deadline would be much later, and we should mark the initial reach-out
Status Summary / Note for Reference
Week 8: Feature Blog opt-in Deadline + Mid Cycle Blog
For Lead
- Start drafting the mid-cycle sneak peek blog
For Lead and Shadows
- Update and finalise the Feature Blog status in the Project Board
- Pair Feature Blog authors together following SIG Docs’ writing buddy process
- Work on the mid-cycle sneak peek blog draft
Status Summary / Note for Reference
Week 9: Focus on Mid Cycle Blog
For Lead
- Create the mid cycle sneak peek blog PR
- Collaborate with sig-docs-blog to establish review expectations and publication strategy
- Notify sig-docs-blog about the review of the mid cycle sneak peek blog
- Assign Feature Blogs to each member and clarify in the "Comms Editor" column
For Lead and Shadows
- Send another reminder to SIGs about Release Highlights
Status Summary / Note for Reference
Week 10: Mid Cycle Blog Review, Release Blog Draft & Mid Way Retro
For Lead
- Start drafting the Release Announcement blog
For Lead and Shadows
- Address review comments on the mid cycle sneak peek blog
- Send final reminder about the Release Highlights
- Join retrospective for sharing anything you learned from the cycle so far
Status Summary / Note for Reference
Old Updates
As of Wednesday, 24th September (week 2)
- Comms shadows were selected and notified
- Shadows onboarding will be planned by the end of the week
- Shadows are notified about the access and permissions they need, check in progress
- Opened a PR to add Comms shadows to the v1.35 Release Team
Caution
This progress issue is incomplete