release_managers_guide - Releasing a new version of perl 5.x
-XXX as of Jul 2009, this file is still a work-in-progress - DAPM
+XXX as of Jul 2009, this file is still a work-in-progress. I think it
+contains all the actions needed to build a release, but things may have
+got skipped, and some things could do with polishing. Note that things
+change each release, there may be new things not covered here, or
+tools may need updating. DAPM
=head1 SYNOPSIS
a base for ideas on how the various tasks could be automated or
distributed.
-The outline of a release cycle is as follows:
+The outline of a typical release cycle is as follows:
- (5.10.1 is released, and post-release action have been done)
+ (5.10.1 is released, and post-release actions have been done)
...time passes...
a few weeks before the release, a number of steps are performed,
including bumping the version to 5.10.2
+
+ ...a few weeks passes...
perl-5.10.2-RC1 is released
./perl -Ilib Porting/core-cpan-diff -x -a
+if you are making a maint release, run C<core-cpan-diff> on both blead and
+maint, then diff the two outputs. Compare this with what you expect, and if
+necessary, fix things up. For example, you might think that both blead
+and maint are synchronised with a particular CPAN module, but one might
+have some extra changes.
+
=item *
Ensure dual-life CPAN modules are stable, which comes down to:
=item *
+Similarly, monitor the smoking of perl for compiler warnings, and try to
+fix.
+
+=item *
+
Run F<Porting/cmpVERSION.pl> to compare the current source tree with the
previous version to check for for modules that have identical version
numbers but different contents, e.g.:
=item *
Get perldelta in a mostly finished state.
-XXX expand
+Peruse F<Porting/how_to_write_a_perldelta.pod>, and try to make sure that
+every section it lists is, if necessary, populated and complete. Copy
+edit the whole document.
=item *
Re-read the perldelta to try to find any embarrassing typos and thinkos;
remove any C<TODO> or C<XXX> flags; and run through pod and spell
-checkers. [XXX show how]
+checkers, e.g.
+
+ podchecker -warnings -warnings pod/perl5101delta.pod
+ spell pod/perl5101delta.pod
=item *