docs/developer_docs_versioned_docs/version-6.1.0/contributing/release-process.md

---
title: Release Process
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---

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# Release Process

Understand Apache Superset's release process, versioning strategy, and how to participate.

## Release Cadence

### Schedule

- **Major releases (X.0.0)**: Annually (approximately)
- **Minor releases (X.Y.0)**: Quarterly
- **Patch releases (X.Y.Z)**: As needed for critical fixes

### Version Numbering

Superset follows [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/):

```
MAJOR.MINOR.PATCH
  ↓      ↓     ↓
  │      │     └── Bug fixes, security patches
  │      └────── New features, backwards compatible
  └──────────── Breaking changes
```

### Examples

- `3.0.0`: Major release with breaking changes
- `3.1.0`: Minor release with new features
- `3.1.1`: Patch release with bug fixes

## Release Types

### Major Releases (X.0.0)

#### Includes

- Breaking API changes
- Deprecated feature removals
- Major architectural changes
- Database migration requirements

#### Process

- 2-3 month preparation period
- Multiple release candidates (RC)
- Extensive testing period
- Migration guides required

### Minor Releases (X.Y.0)

#### Includes

- New features
- Performance improvements
- Non-breaking API additions
- Minor UI/UX updates

#### Process

- 1 month preparation
- 1-2 release candidates
- Standard testing period

### Patch Releases (X.Y.Z)

#### Includes

- Bug fixes
- Security patches
- Documentation fixes
- Dependency updates (security)

#### Process

- Fast track for critical issues
- May skip RC for urgent security fixes
- Minimal testing requirements

## Release Process (For Release Managers)

### 1. Pre-Release Preparation

#### Feature Freeze

```bash
# Create release branch
git checkout -b release-X.Y
git push upstream release-X.Y

# Update version
# Edit setup.py and package.json
VERSION = "X.Y.0rc1"
```

#### Update Documentation

- CHANGELOG.md
- UPDATING.md (for breaking changes)
- Documentation version

#### Release Notes Template

```markdown
# Apache Superset X.Y.0

## 🎉 Highlights

- Major feature 1
- Major feature 2

## 🚀 New Features

- Feature 1 (#PR)
- Feature 2 (#PR)

## 🐛 Bug Fixes

- Fix 1 (#PR)
- Fix 2 (#PR)

## ⚠️ Breaking Changes

- Breaking change 1
- Migration required for X

## 📝 Documentation

- Doc update 1 (#PR)

## 🙏 Thank You

Thanks to all contributors!
```

### 2. Create Release Candidate

#### Build RC

```bash
# Tag release candidate
git tag -a vX.Y.Zrc1 -m "Apache Superset X.Y.Z RC1"
git push upstream vX.Y.Zrc1

# Build source distribution
python setup.py sdist

# Build wheel
python setup.py bdist_wheel

# Sign artifacts
gpg --armor --detach-sig dist/apache-superset-X.Y.Zrc1.tar.gz
```

#### Upload to staging

```bash
# Upload to Apache staging
svn co https://dist.apache.org/repos/dist/dev/superset
cd superset
mkdir X.Y.Zrc1
cp /path/to/dist/* X.Y.Zrc1/
svn add X.Y.Zrc1
svn commit -m "Add Apache Superset X.Y.Z RC1"
```

### 3. Voting Process

#### Call for Vote Email

Send to dev@superset.apache.org:

```
Subject: [VOTE] Release Apache Superset X.Y.Z RC1

Hi all,

I'd like to call a vote to release Apache Superset version X.Y.Z RC1.

The release candidate:
- Git tag: vX.Y.Zrc1
- Git hash: abc123def456
- Source: https://dist.apache.org/repos/dist/dev/superset/X.Y.Zrc1/

Resources:
- Release notes: [link]
- CHANGELOG: [link]
- PR list: [link]

The vote will be open for at least 72 hours.

[ ] +1 approve
[ ] +0 no opinion
[ ] -1 disapprove (and reason why)

Thanks,
[Your name]
```

#### Voting Rules

- **Duration**: Minimum 72 hours
- **Required**: 3 +1 votes from PMC members
- **Veto**: Any -1 vote must be addressed

#### Testing Checklist

```markdown
- [ ] Source builds successfully
- [ ] Docker image builds
- [ ] Basic functionality works
- [ ] No critical bugs
- [ ] License check passes
- [ ] Security scan clean
```

### 4. Release Approval

#### Tally Votes

```
Subject: [RESULT][VOTE] Release Apache Superset X.Y.Z RC1

The vote to release Apache Superset X.Y.Z RC1 has passed.

+1 votes (binding):
- PMC Member 1
- PMC Member 2
- PMC Member 3

+1 votes (non-binding):
- Contributor 1
- Contributor 2

0 votes:
- None

-1 votes:
- None

Thank you to everyone who tested and voted!
```

### 5. Perform Release

#### Promote RC to Release

```bash
# Tag final release
git tag -a vX.Y.Z -m "Apache Superset X.Y.Z"
git push upstream vX.Y.Z

# Move from dev to release
svn mv https://dist.apache.org/repos/dist/dev/superset/X.Y.Zrc1 \
       https://dist.apache.org/repos/dist/release/superset/X.Y.Z
```

#### Publish to PyPI

```bash
# Upload to PyPI
python -m twine upload dist/*X.Y.Z*
```

#### Build Docker Images

```bash
# Build and push Docker images
docker build -t apache/superset:X.Y.Z .
docker push apache/superset:X.Y.Z
docker tag apache/superset:X.Y.Z apache/superset:latest
docker push apache/superset:latest
```

### 6. Post-Release Tasks

#### Update Documentation

```bash
# Update docs version
cd docs
# Update docusaurus.config.js with new version
npm run build
```

#### Announcement Email

Send to announce@apache.org, dev@superset.apache.org:

```
Subject: [ANNOUNCE] Apache Superset X.Y.Z Released

The Apache Superset team is pleased to announce the release of
Apache Superset X.Y.Z.

Apache Superset is a modern data exploration and visualization platform.

This release includes [number] commits from [number] contributors.

Highlights:
- Feature 1
- Feature 2
- Bug fixes and improvements

Download: https://superset.apache.org/docs/installation/
Release Notes: https://github.com/apache/superset/releases/tag/vX.Y.Z
PyPI: https://pypi.org/project/apache-superset/
Docker: docker pull apache/superset:X.Y.Z

Thanks to all contributors who made this release possible!

The Apache Superset Team
```

#### Update GitHub Release

```bash
# Create GitHub release
gh release create vX.Y.Z \
  --title "Apache Superset X.Y.Z" \
  --notes-file RELEASE_NOTES.md
```

## For Contributors

### During Feature Freeze

#### What's Allowed

- ✅ Bug fixes
- ✅ Documentation updates
- ✅ Test improvements
- ✅ Security fixes

#### What's Not Allowed

- ❌ New features
- ❌ Major refactoring
- ❌ Breaking changes
- ❌ Risky changes

### Testing RCs

#### How to Test

```bash
# Install RC from staging
pip install https://dist.apache.org/repos/dist/dev/superset/X.Y.Zrc1/apache-superset-X.Y.Zrc1.tar.gz

# Or use Docker
docker pull apache/superset:X.Y.Zrc1
```

#### What to Test

- Your use cases
- New features mentioned in release notes
- Upgrade from previous version
- Database migrations
- Critical workflows

#### Reporting Issues

```markdown
Found issue in RC1:

- Description: [what's wrong]
- Steps to reproduce: [how to trigger]
- Impact: [blocker/major/minor]
- Suggested fix: [if known]
```

### CHANGELOG Maintenance

#### Format

```markdown
## X.Y.Z (YYYY-MM-DD)

### Features

- feat: Description (#PR_NUMBER)

### Fixes

- fix: Description (#PR_NUMBER)

### Breaking Changes

- BREAKING: Description (#PR_NUMBER)
  Migration: Steps to migrate
```

#### Generating CHANGELOG

```bash
# Use git log to generate initial list
git log --oneline vX.Y-1.Z..vX.Y.Z | grep -E "^[a-f0-9]+ (feat|fix|perf|refactor|docs)"

# Group by type and format
```

## Breaking Changes Process

### Documentation Required

#### UPDATING.md Entry

````markdown
# X.Y.Z

## Breaking Change: [Title]

### Description

What changed and why.

### Before

```python
# Old way
old_function(param1, param2)
```
````

### After

```python
# New way
new_function(param1, param2, param3)
```

### Migration Steps

1. Update your code to...
2. Run migration script...
3. Test that...

````

### Deprecation Process

1. **Version N**: Mark as deprecated
   ```python
   @deprecated(version="3.0.0", remove_in="4.0.0")
   def old_function():
       warnings.warn("Use new_function instead", DeprecationWarning)
````

2. **Version N+1**: Keep deprecated with warnings

3. **Version N+2**: Remove completely

## Security Releases

### Expedited Process

- No RC required for critical security fixes
- Coordinate with security@apache.org
- Embargo period may apply
- CVE assignment through ASF security team

### Security Advisory Template

```markdown
CVE-YYYY-XXXXX: [Title]

Severity: [Critical/High/Medium/Low]
Affected Versions: < X.Y.Z
Fixed Version: X.Y.Z

Description:
[Vulnerability description]

Mitigation:
[How to fix or work around]

Credit:
[Reporter name/organization]
```

## Resources

### Internal

- [Apache Release Policy](https://www.apache.org/legal/release-policy.html)
- [Superset Release History](https://github.com/apache/superset/releases)
- [Version Strategy Discussion](https://github.com/apache/superset/discussions)

### Tools

- [Release Scripts](https://github.com/apache/superset/tree/master/scripts/release)
- [Superset Repository Scripts](https://github.com/apache/superset/tree/master/scripts)

Next: Return to [Contributing Overview](./overview.md)