History

<!> Mark completed items using the (./) symbol

Release Team

Name
Email
Responsibility
Tim Sutton tim at linfiniti.com Release Manager
Düster Horst Horst.Duester at bd.so.ch Trac Maintainer
Aaron Racicot aaronr at z-pulley.com Trac Maintainer / Bug Testing
Tisham Dhar tisham at apogee.com.au Win maintainer & bugs relating to windows packaging & grass
Otto Dassau otto.dassau at gmx.de Publicity and packaging help

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Two Month Release Timeline for QGIS

Item
Date / Completed?
Set date for next release two months into the future 26 August 2007
Discuss with PSC & Developers which features should be merged into release (in future this will be trunk)
/)
Feature Freeze 16 July 2007
Trac Maintenance - update bug status to the following guidelines
blocker - bugs that should block the release. Since we are going to release pretty much 'come what may' I would like no bugs
allocated to this category without consultation with me and / or PSC
critical - bugs that cause the application to crash or corrupt data
major - application features that do not function
minor - features that function but imerfectly e.g. labels placing incorrectly
trivial - gui useability issues or small issues with the documentation, install notes etc.

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One month before [27 July 2007]

Item
Date / Completed?
complete merge of features
/)
create preview build and make available for bug reports - see PackagingHelpers for list of packagers
/)
string freeze for UI
/)
call for translators to update ts files
/)
call for document managers to update docs based on new features in SVN
/)
tag as preview 1 (see below for tagging note)
/)

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Two weeks before [Date ?]

  • Second preview release

One week before [Date ?]

  • tag SVN and call for packaging

Day of release [26 Nov 2007]

  • announce to press and make packages available (coordinate with Communications Advisor
 svn cp https://svn.qgis.org/repos/qgis/trunk/qgis \
          https://svn.qgis.org/repos/qgis/tags/Preview-0.9.0-1

Pre-release

Generic (all platforms)
Completed?
Check that the .ts files have been generated and call for translators to update them
/)
Ensure any new contributors have been added to CONTRIBUTORS, along with their mugshot if available
/)
Ensure any new sponsors have been added to SPONSORS
/)
Update the splash screen (minor and major relases!)
/)
Update the ChangeLog with a list of changes implemented in this release
/)
Update index.html to reflect what's new, requirements, and documentation (see current index.html in ./doc of the source tree)
/)
Update index.html to reflect GRASS and related lib versions in the win build (see current index.html in ./doc of the source tree)
/)
Update the whatsNew string in qgisapp.cpp to reflect changes (used to display in about box)
/)
Edit qgsconfig.h.in_cmake in the top level directory of the QGIS sources and set the version e.g. #define VERSION "0.8.1-Titan". Make sure the version has no spaces in it as it will cause the build to fail on MacOSX.
/)
Check that cmake is deploying all headers required to build apps using libqgis_*
/)
Apply any updated translations
/)
Apply any pending patches or mark them for a future release in the tracker (see bug tracker section below)
/)
Apply fixes for any pending bugs or mark them against a future milestone (see bug tracker section below)
/)

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Linux Specific
Completed?
Edit build_debian_package.sh and set dch -v 0.8.1 to the apropriate version number
/)

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Windows Specific
Completed?
Update the NSIS installer (win_build/qgis.nsis) to reflect the correct version !define PRODUCT_VERSION "0.8.1 Titan"
/)
Check the NSIS installer is including any newly added headers, libraries etc.
/)
Use cmakesetup to set the install prefix to c:\program files\qgis<version> e.g. qgis0.8.1
/)

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Tag and export
Completed?
Tag the release (see tag section below)
/)
Note the svn revision number for the tagged release here: r7033
Generate the change log for the release (see below)
/)
Export the source code to a source tarball
/)

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Call for packaging
Completed?
Write to the developers list and ask packagers to create their packages. Point them to PackagingHelpers and ask them to update the table once they are done.
/)

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Bug Tracker System

All bugs that are intended to have been fixed in this release should have been marked as closed. All other bugs on the release branch should be marked for a future release. To do this, create a new milestone e.g. we are releasing 0.8.1 now so create a new milestone in trac for 0.8.2

 cd /var/www
 trac-admin ./qgis-trac 
 milestone list
 milestone add "Version 0.9" 
 quit

Now you need to visit each open bug on the branch and reset its milestone. This can be done automatically but it requires direct access to the trac server (i.e. contact Tim of Gary). To do the update do:

 cd /var/www/qgis-trac/db
 sudo cp trac.db trac_nov_01_07.db
 sudo sqlite3 trac.db
 update ticket set milestone = 'Version 0.9.1' where milestone = 'Version 0.9' and status <> 'closed';
 .q

After this, add a link on the front of the Trac wiki which links to the current milestone. You can visit https://svn.qgis.org/trac/report/3 to get a report of bugs by milestone.

Tagging Details

Tag the release using syntax below (update this with the actual commands you used to tag).

 svn cp https://svn.qgis.org/repos/qgis/trunk/qgis \
          https://svn.qgis.org/repos/qgis/branches/Release-0_9_0

Create the source tarball using:

 cd /tmp
 svn export https://svn.qgis.org/repos/qgis/branches/Release-0_9_0 \
          qgis-0.9.0

Then use your favourite compression tool to create zip and .tar.bz2 archives.

Generate the changelog (first no is svn revision of previous release, second is svn revision of this release:

 svn log -r6350:7033 > /tmp/log.txt

Edit your .vimrc file and add this key mapping with a macro to help you tidy up the log:

 :map <F2> :map <F2> ddg|f|d$gJgJ/---^M

Now edit the file with vim and press F2 repeatedly to reformat it (e.g. 100F2 will automatically do 100 F2 presses for you. If the macro approach above does not work for you, just record a new macro using the same keystrokes. Now get rid of all blank lines using this command:

 gg
 :g/^$/d

Pro-forma call for packaging annoucnement:

Release X.X.X has been tagged in SVN. If you are a packager please go ahead and make packages using this:

svn co https://svn.qgis.org/repos/qgis/tags/Release-X.X.X qgis-X.X.X

If you are able to build a package please add yourself to http://wiki.qgis.org/qgiswiki/PackagingHelpers indicating which package you are building. If you are building a package that includes qt (mac / win / linux application bundle), it would be great if you could build against Qt version XXX.

I will make the public announcement on this coming XXX DATE XXX so if packagers could get their work to me before then it will be great to be able to announce with binaries already available for download. You can send me the url to the package on your own server (please supply md5 checksums too if possible), or you can send me the file using the free server 'you send it' at:

http://www.yousendit.com/

I have made windows and source packages and these will be uploaded and generally available tomorrow from the official http://download.qgis.org

Many thanks for all the people who dedicated a lot of time and effort into making this release possible - your work is greatly appreciated!

Regards

Post Release

Wiki Updates
Completed?
Update Release Checklists to mark the release as completed.

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qgis.org Updates
Completed?
Up date the 'Current Release' link on the main menu
(./)
Update the 'Download' link on the top menu bar
(./)
Add release newsflash
(./)
Current version page to be updated
(./)
svn download of tagged release updated
(./)
download page updated
(./)
screenshots updated not required

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Publicising (see announcing the release section below)
Completed?
http://freshmeat.net
http://kde-apps.org
http://qt-apps.org
http://freegis.org
http://apple.com
http://slashgeo.org/submit.pl
http://lxer.com/module/newswire/stories/add.php
http://www.freemacware.com/let-us-know
http://www.osnews.com/submit.php
http://directory.fsf.org/project/QGIS/

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Announcing the release

Create an announcement template

An annoucement templace will save you retypping the same text at the various places of announcement. The following text can be used as a basis:

A Generic release subject

Announcing the release of Quantum GIS version 0.9.0

A generic 20 word summary

Quantum GIS is a user friendly Open Source Geographic Information System that runs on Linux, Unix, Mac OSX, and Windows.

A mailing list announcement

It is our great pleasure to announce the immediate availability of Quantum GIS (QGIS) Version 0.9.0. See below for press release:

Quantum GIS (QGIS) is a user friendly Open Source Geographic Information System (GIS) that runs on Linux, Unix, Mac OSX, and Windows. QGIS supports vector, raster, and database formats. QGIS is licensed under the GNU General Public License. QGIS lets you browse and create map data on your computer. It supports many common spatial data formats (e.g. ESRI ShapeFile, geotiff). QGIS supports plugins to do things like display tracks from your GPS. QGIS is Open Source software and its free of cost (download here). We welcome contributions from our user community in the form of code contributions, bug fixes, bug reports, contributed documentation, advocacy and supporting other users on our mailing lists and forums. Financial contributions are also welcome. This release introduces several new features including python support and many new GRASS modules. The release also includes numerous bug fixes and stability improvements. QGIS is available is source form, and as binary executables for Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, and GNU/Linux. All versions can be obtained from our download page at http://download.qgis.org . As an open source project, we provide support for using QGIS via our mailing lists and bug tracker:

Major changes in this release are:

  • Python bindings - This is the major focus of this release
       it is now possible to create plugins using python. It is also
   possible to create GIS enabled applications written in python 
   that use the QGIS libraries.
  • Removed automake build system - QGIS now needs CMake for compilation.
  • Many new GRASS tools added (with thanks to http://faunalia.it/)
  • Map Composer updates
  • Crash fix for 2.5D shapefiles
  • The QGIS libraries have been refactored and better organised.
  • Improvements to the GeoReferencer

QGIS is a completely volunteer driven project, and is the work of a dedicated team of developers, documenters and supporters. We extend our thanks and gratitude for the many, many hours people have contributed to make this release happen.

A generic short html announcement

It is our great pleasure to announce the immediate availability of Quantum GIS (QGIS) Version 0.9.0. Quantum GIS (QGIS) is a user friendly Open Source Geographic Information System (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GIS">GIS</a>) that runs on Linux, Unix, Mac OSX, and Windows. QGIS supports vector, raster, and database formats. QGIS is licensed under the GNU General Public License. QGIS lets you <a href="http://qgis.org/flash/flashwrapper.php?filename=qgisdemo1.swf" title="QGIS demo">browse</a> and create map data on your computer. It supports many common spatial data formats (e.g. ESRI ShapeFile, geotiff). QGIS supports plugins to do things like <a href="http://qgis.org/flash/flashwrapper.php?filename=gpx_demo.swf"
title="GPS demo">display tracks</a> from your GPS. QGIS is Open Source software and its free of cost (<a href="http://download.qgis.org/">download here</a>). We welcome contributions from our user community in the form of

<a href = "http://wiki.qgis.org/qgiswiki/DevelopersCorner" title="Developers Corner">code contributions</a>, <a href="https://qgis.org/trac">bug fixes</a>, <a href="https://qgis.org/trac/newticket">bug reports</a>, <a href="http://wiki.qgis.org/qgiswiki/DocumentationWritersCorner">contributed documentation</a>, advocacy and supporting other users on our <a href="http://qgis.org/content/view/115/96">mailing lists</a> and <a href="http://forum.qgis.org/">forums</a>.
<a href = "http://qgis.org/content/view/97/73/" title = "Contribute">
Financial contributions </a> are also welcome.

This release introduces several new features including python bindings and many additional GRASS modules. The release also includes bug fixes and stability improvements. QGIS is available is source form, and as binary executables for Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, and GNU/Linux. All versions can be obtained from our <a href="http://download.qgis.org">download page</a>.

As an open source project, we provide support for using QGIS via our mailing lists and bug tracker:

<ul>
<li>For general enquiries <a href="http://lists.qgis.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/qgis-user">subscribe</a> to our users mailing list.</li>
<li>For developer related enquiries <a href="http://lists.qgis.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/qgis-developer">subscribe</a> to our separate developers list.</li>
<li>If you think you have found a bug, please report it using our <a href="https://svn.qgis.org/trac">bug tracker</a>. When reporting bugs, please include some contact information in case we need help with replicating your issue.</li>
</ul>

A generic short plain text announcement

It is our great pleasure to announce the immediate availability of Quantum GIS (QGIS) Version 0.9.0 Quantum GIS (QGIS) is a user friendly Open Source Geographic Information System (GIS) that runs on Linux, Unix, Mac OSX, and Windows. QGIS supports vector, raster, and database formats. QGIS is licensed under the GNU General Public License. QGIS lets you browse and create map data on your computer. It supports many common spatial data formats (e.g. ESRI ShapeFile, geotiff). QGIS supports plugins to do things like display tracks from your GPS. QGIS is Open Source software and its free of cost (download here). We welcome contributions from our user community in the form of code contributions, bug fixes, bug reports, contributed documentation, advocacy and supporting other users on our mailing lists and forums. Financial contributions are also welcome. This release introduces several new features including python support and many new GRASS modules. The release also includes numerous bug fixes and stability improvements. QGIS is available is source form, and as binary executables for Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, and GNU/Linux. All versions can be obtained from our download page. As an open source project, we provide support for using QGIS via our mailing lists and bug tracker:

For a longer annoucement, include the changelog text and a screenshot of some shiny new feature.

A generic product description

Quantum GIS (QGIS) is a user friendly Open Source Geographic Information System (GIS) that runs on Linux, Unix, Mac OSX, and Windows. QGIS supports vector, raster, and database formats. QGIS is licensed under the GNU General Public License. QGIS lets you browse and create map data on your computer. It supports many common spatial data formats (e.g. ESRI ShapeFile, geotiff). QGIS supports plugins to do things like display tracks from your GPS. QGIS is Open Source software and its free of cost.

A generic features list

  • Support for spatially enabled PostGIS tables
  • Support for shapefiles, ArcInfo coverages, Mapinfo, and other formats supported by OGR
  • Raster support for a large number of formats
  • Identify/select/label features
  • OGC Support (WMS, WFS)
  • Digitizing OGR/Shape and GRASS files
  • Edit/View/Search attribute tables
  • Export to Mapserver map file
  • GRASS integration including view, edit and analysis
  • Python bindings
  • On the fly projection
  • Georeferencing
  • Print Composer
  • Extensible plugin architecture