Backdrop 1.17.0 Release checklist

[jenlampton]

Scheduled for January/September/May 15, 20xx 10am - 4pm PT

Pre-release tasks

• Merge minor release commits @quicksketch
• Move all unfinished bug-fix issues to the next bug-fix release milestone @jenlampton
• Draft Release notes @jenlampton
  • Copy Preview release release notes, update as follows
    • Include a short, descriptive summary of the release, for example:
      • The Backdrop community is proud to release version 1.xx of Backdrop CMS, following our 4-month release cycle.
    • Include a section containing Notes for updating
      • Note if any changes were made to files outside the core directory, for example:
        • No changes have been made to the .htaccess, robots.txt or default settings.php files in this release. Updating customized versions of those files is not necessary.
      • Note if updates (update.php) needs to be run, for example:
        • Use the text "The database update script does not need to be run."
        • or "It will be necessary to run the update script (located at /update.php) for this release."
    • Include list of major new features
      • This list can be generated from the list on the preview release, but review closed issuses in the milestone
      • Verify the list above matches all changes since the most recent bug-fix release

Release tasks

• Update bootstrap.inc with version number @quicksketch
• Tag for release, and push tag to GitHub @quicksketch
• Branch for new minor number (e.g. 1.10.x) and push to GitHub @quicksketch
• Revert version number back on 1.x branch with minor number increased @quicksketch
• Revert version number back on new minor number branch (e.g. 1.10.x-dev) @quicksketch
• Create release notes on GitHub, and publish release @quicksketch
• Unpublish preview release on backdropcms.org @jenlampton
• Update the front page download link on b.org @jenlampton

Post-release tasks

• Push the minor release to the TugBoat Backdrop repository @quicksketch
  • Update backdropcms.org to use the latest TugBoat @quicksketch
• Create a PR to update the Platform.sh Backdrop repository @jenlampton
• Push the minor release to the Backdrop Composer repository @serundeputy
• Update the Backdrop Docker repository ???
  • Create a PR to update the Docker repository ???

Post-release Publicity tasks

• Tweet that a new release is out @jenlampton
• Publish blog post @jenlampton
• email [email protected] for a note in the PHP Weekly Newsletter @jenlampton
• Update the Wikipedia articles @klonos
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backdrop_CMS
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_content_management_systems
• Update api.backdropcms.org @jenlampton

2 weeks Post-release Publicity tasks

• Push the minor release to the Pantheon repository @quicksketch
• Send a newsletter to subscribers @stpaultim
• Update backdropcms.org @jenlampton
• Update forum.backdropcms.org @jenlampton

See Also

• Bug-Fix Release Checklist
• Preview Release Checklist

[jenlampton]

Draft release notes (thank you @stpaultim)

The Backdrop community is proud to release version 1.17.0 of Backdrop CMS, following our 4-month release cycle.

Notes for updating:

• It will be necessary to run the update script (located at /update.php) for this release.
• No changes have been made to the .htaccess, robots.txt or default settings.php files in this release. Updating custom versions of those files is not necessary.

Major new features in Backdrop 1.17.0 include:

• Add a lazy-loading option for image fields [SEO][WP] Add a lazy-loading option for image fields #3659
• Provide image style tokens (imagecache_token module added to core) [D8] Provide image style tokens (imagecache_token module in core) #3594
• Layouts: Provide an admin label and description for all blocks [UX] Provide an admin label and description for all blocks #4558
• Layouts: Allow support for custom contexts Layouts: Add support for custom contexts #3750
• Security enhancement: Enforce basic password constraints (no username or email as password) [SR] Enforce basic password constraints: no username, no email #4265
• Security enhancement: Use .htaccess files to secure configuration directories Use .htaccess files to secure configuration directories #706

Usability improvements

• Sort the "Available Updates" page by priority [UX] Sort the "Available Updates" page by priority #3132
• Add the 'Administer content' permission to the editor role [UX] Add the 'Administer content' permission to the editor role on new installs #4541
• Add the "new" marker to the content overview listing. [UX] Add the "new" marker to the content overview listing #2350
• Enable the password toggle on all password fields [UX] Enable the password toggle on all password fields #3048
• Make autocomplete suggestions easier to read [UX] Make autocomplete suggestions easier to read #4481

Cleanup tasks

• Add a CSS class containing node ID to "existing content" blocks Add a CSS class containing node ID to "existing content" blocks #3730
• Add Views "Page by date" pager plugin Add Views "Page by date" pager plugin #2766
• Remove uppercase transform on fieldset labels in Seven theme [UX] Remove uppercase transform on fieldset labels in Seven theme #4125
• Clean up formatting and line-length on .txt files in core Clean up formatting and line-length on .txt files in core #4417

[quicksketch]

Tag for 1.17.0 is cut: https://github.com/backdrop/backdrop/releases/tag/1.17.0

New branch for 1.17.x created. And now the main 1.x branch is for 1.18.x.

[jenlampton]

release pubished: https://github.com/backdrop/backdrop/releases/tag/1.17.0

[quicksketch]

Tugboat demos are updated and working from backdropcms.org homepage.

[jenlampton]

I'm also working on a blog post at https://backdropcms.org/node/3035

[stpaultim]

I saw that. I keep thinking I will get to it, but Backdrop LIVE is taking all my time. Thanks. I have a little time now, if you need help.

[quicksketch]

Items like the push to Pantheon will be in the 1.17.1 release, which will be today: #4661