# IPython release process

This document contains the process that is used to create an IPython release.

Conveniently, the `release` script in the `tools` directory of the `IPython` repository automates most of the release process. This document serves as a handy reminder and checklist for the release manager.

During the release process, you might need the extra following dependencies:

> - `keyring` to access your GitHub authentication tokens
> - `graphviz` to generate some graphs in the documentation

Make sure you have all the required dependencies to run the tests as well.

## 1. Set Environment variables

Set environment variables to document previous release tag, current release milestone, current release version, and git tag.

These variables may be used later to copy/paste as answers to the script questions instead of typing the appropriate command when the time comes. These variables are not used by the scripts directly; therefore, there is no need to `export` them. The format for bash is as follows, but note that these values are just an example valid only for the 5.0 release; you’ll need to update them for the release you are actually making:

    PREV_RELEASE=4.2.1
    MILESTONE=5.0
    VERSION=5.0.0
    BRANCH=master

## 2. Create GitHub stats and finish release note

Note

This step is optional if making a Beta or RC release.

Note

Before generating the GitHub stats, verify that all closed issues and pull requests have appropriate milestones. This search should return no results before creating the GitHub stats.

If a major release:

> - merge any pull request notes into what’s new:

>       python tools/update_whatsnew.py

> - update `docs/source/whatsnew/development.rst`, to ensure it covers the major release features

> - move the contents of `development.rst` to `versionX.rst` where `X` is the numerical release version

> - generate summary of GitHub contributions, which can be done with:

>       python tools/github_stats.py --milestone $MILESTONE > stats.rst

>   which may need some manual cleanup of `stats.rst`. Add the cleaned `stats.rst` results to `docs/source/whatsnew/github-stats-X.rst` where `X` is the numerical release version (don’t forget to add it to the git repo as well). If creating a major release, make a new `github-stats-X.rst` file; if creating a minor release, the content from `stats.rst` may simply be added to the top of an existing `github-stats-X.rst` file. Finally, edit `docs/source/whatsnew/index.rst` to list the new `github-stats-X` file you just created and remove temporarily the first entry called `development` (you’ll need to add it back after release).

>   Make sure that the stats file has a header or it won’t be rendered in the final documentation.

To find duplicates and update `.mailmap`, use:

    git log --format="%aN <%aE>" $PREV_RELEASE... | sort -u -f

## 3. Make sure the repository is clean

of any file that could be problematic.

  Remove all non-tracked files with:

      git clean -xfdi

  This will ask for confirmation before removing all untracked files. Make sure the `dist/` folder is clean to avoid any stale builds from previous build attempts.

## 4. Update the release version number

Edit `IPython/core/release.py` to have the current version.

in particular, update version number and `_version_extra` content in `IPython/core/release.py`.

Step 5 will validate your changes automatically, but you might still want to make sure the version number matches pep440.

In particular, `rc` and `beta` are not separated by `.` or the `sdist` and `bdist` will appear as different releases. For example, a valid version number for a release candidate (rc) release is: `1.3rc1`. Notice that there is no separator between the ‘3’ and the ‘r’. Check the environment variable `$VERSION` as well.

You will likely just have to modify/comment/uncomment one of the lines setting `_version_extra`

## 5. Run the `tools/build_release` script

Running `tools/build_release` does all the file checking and building that the real release script will do. This makes test installations, checks that the build procedure runs OK, and tests other steps in the release process.

The `build_release` script will in particular verify that the version number match PEP 440, in order to avoid surprise at the time of build upload.

We encourage creating a test build of the docs as well.

## 6. Create and push the new tag

Commit the changes to release.py:

    git commit -am "release $VERSION"
    git push origin $BRANCH

Create and push the tag:

    git tag -am "release $VERSION" "$VERSION"
    git push origin --tags

Update release.py back to `x.y-dev` or `x.y-maint`, and re-add the `development` entry in `docs/source/whatsnew/index.rst` and push:

    git commit -am "back to development"
    git push origin $BRANCH

## 7. Get a fresh clone

Get a fresh clone of the tag for building the release:

    cd /tmp
    git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/ipython/ipython.git -b "$VERSION"
    cd ipython

Note

You can also cleanup the current working repository with `git clean -xfdi`

## 8. Run the release script

Run the `release` script, this step requires having a current wheel, Python >=3.4 and Python 2.7.:

    ./tools/release

This makes the tarballs, zipfiles, and wheels, and put them under the `dist/` folder. Be sure to test the `wheels` and the `sdist` locally before uploading them to PyPI. We do not use an universal wheel as each wheel installs an `ipython2` or `ipython3` script, depending on the version of Python it is built for. Using an universal wheel would prevent this.

Use the following to actually upload the result of the build:

    ./tools/release upload

It should posts them to `archive.ipython.org` and to PyPI.

PyPI/Warehouse will automatically hide previous releases. If you are uploading a non-stable version, make sure to log-in to PyPI and un-hide previous version.

## 9. Draft a short release announcement

The announcement should include:

- release highlights
- a link to the html version of the What’s new section of the documentation
- a link to upgrade or installation tips (if necessary)

Post the announcement to the mailing list and or blog, and link from Twitter.

Note

If you are doing a RC or Beta, you can likely skip the next steps.

## 10. Update milestones on GitHub

These steps will bring milestones up to date:

- close the just released milestone
- open a new milestone for the next release (x, y+1), if the milestone doesn’t exist already

## 11. Update the IPython website

The IPython website should document the new release:

- add release announcement (news, announcements)
- update current version and download links
- update links on the documentation page (especially if a major release)

## 12. Update readthedocs

Make sure to update readthedocs and set the latest tag as stable, as well as checking that previous release is still building under its own tag.

## 13. Celebrate!

Celebrate the release and please thank the contributors for their work. Great job!