6. Releasing a New Version

When we release versions of Privoxy, our work leaves our cozy secret lab and has to work in the cold RealWorld[tm]. Once it is released, there is no way to call it back, so it is very important that great care is taken to ensure that everything runs fine, and not to introduce problems in the very last minute.

So when releasing a new version, please adhere exactly to the procedure outlined in this chapter.

The following programs are required to follow this process: ncftpput (ncftp), scp, ssh (ssh), gmake (GNU's version of make), autoconf, cvs.

6.1. Version numbers

First you need to determine which version number the release will have. Privoxy version numbers consist of three numbers, separated by dots, like in X.Y.Z (e.g. 3.0.0), where:

In summary, the main CVS trunk is the development branch where new features are being worked on for the next stable series. This should almost always be where the most activity takes place. There is always at least one stable branch from the trunk, e.g now it is 3.0, which is only used to release stable versions. Once the initial .0 release of the stable branch has been done, then as a rule, only bugfixes that have had prior testing should be committed to the stable branch. At that point, it is mostly "hands off". Once there are enough bugfixes to justify a new release, the version of this branch is again incremented Example: 3.0.0 -> 3.0.1 -> 3.0.2, etc are all stable releases from within the stable branch. 3.1.x is currently the main trunk, and where work on 3.2.x is taking place. If any questions, please post to the devel list before committing to a stable branch!

6.2. Before the Release: Freeze

The following must be done by one of the developers prior to each new release.

6.3. Building and Releasing the Packages

Now the individual packages can be built and released. Note that for GPL reasons the first package to be released is always the source tarball.

For all types of packages, including the source tarball, you must make sure that you build from clean sources by exporting the right version from CVS into an empty directory (just press return when asked for a password):

  mkdir dist # delete or choose different name if it already exists
  cd dist
  cvs -d:pserver:anonymous@cvs.ijbswa.sourceforge.net:/cvsroot/ijbswa login
  cvs -z3 -d:pserver:anonymous@cvs.ijbswa.sourceforge.net:/cvsroot/ijbswa export -r v_X_Y_Z current

Do NOT change a single bit, including, but not limited to version information after export from CVS. This is to make sure that all release packages, and with them, all future bug reports, are based on exactly the same code.

Please find additional instructions for the source tarball and the individual platform dependent binary packages below. And details on the Sourceforge release process below that.

6.3.1. Note on Privoxy Packaging

Please keep these general guidelines in mind when putting together your package. These apply to all platforms!

6.3.3. SuSE, Conectiva or Red Hat RPM

In following text, replace dist with either "rh" for Red Hat or "suse" for SuSE.

First, make sure that you have freshly exported the right version into an empty directory. (See "Building and releasing packages" above).

As the only exception to not changing anything after export from CVS, now examine the file privoxy-dist.spec and make sure that the version information and the RPM release number are correct. The RPM release numbers for each version start at one. Hence it must be reset to one if this is the first RPM for dist which is built from version X.Y.Z. Check the file list if unsure. Else, it must be set to the highest already available RPM release number for that version plus one.

Then run:

  cd current
  autoheader && autoconf && ./configure

Then do

  make dist-dist

To upload the package to Sourceforge, simply issue

  make dist-upload rpm_packagerev

where rpm_packagerev is the RPM release number as determined above. Go to the displayed URL and release the file publicly on Sourceforge. Use the release notes and change log from the source tarball package.

6.3.4. OS/2

First, make sure that you have freshly exported the right version into an empty directory. (See "Building and releasing packages" above). Then get the OS/2 Setup module:

  cvs -z3 -d:pserver:anonymous@cvs.ijbswa.sourceforge.net:/cvsroot/ijbswa co os2setup

You will need a mix of development tools. The main compilation takes place with IBM Visual Age C++. Some ancillary work takes place with GNU tools, available from various sources like hobbes.nmsu.edu. Specificially, you will need autoheader, autoconf and sh tools. The packaging takes place with WarpIN, available from various sources, including its home page: xworkplace.

Change directory to the os2setup directory. Edit the os2build.cmd file to set the final executable filename. For example,

  installExeName='privoxyos2_setup_X.Y.Z.exe'

Next, edit the IJB.wis file so the release number matches in the PACKAGEID section:

  PACKAGEID="Privoxy Team\Privoxy\Privoxy Package\X\Y\Z"

You're now ready to build. Run:

  os2build

You will find the WarpIN-installable executable in the ./files directory. Upload this anonymously to uploads.sourceforge.net/incoming, create a release for it, and you're done. Use the release notes and Change Log from the source tarball package.

6.3.6. Windows

You should ensure you have the latest version of Cygwin (from http://www.cygwin.com/). Run the following commands from within a Cygwin bash shell.

First, make sure that you have freshly exported the right version into an empty directory. (See "Building and releasing packages" above). Then get the Windows setup module:

  cvs -z3  -d:pserver:anonymous@cvs.ijbswa.sourceforge.net:/cvsroot/ijbswa co winsetup

Then you can build the package. This is fully automated, and is controlled by winsetup/GNUmakefile. All you need to do is:

  cd winsetup
  make

Now you can manually rename privoxy_setup.exe to privoxy_setup_X_Y_Z.exe, and upload it to SourceForge. When releasing the package on SourceForge, use the release notes and Change Log from the source tarball package.

6.4. Uploading and Releasing Your Package

After the package is ready, it is time to upload it to SourceForge, and go through the release steps. The upload is done via FTP:

Or use the make targets as described above.

Once this done go to http://sourceforge.net/project/admin/editpackages.php?group_id=11118, making sure you are logged in. Find your target platform in the second column, and click Add Release. You will then need to create a new release for your package, using the format of $VERSION ($CODE_STATUS), e.g. 3.1.1 (beta).

Now just follow the prompts. Be sure to add any appropriate Release notes. You should see your freshly uploaded packages in "Step 2. Add Files To This Release". Check the appropriate box(es). Remember at each step to hit the "Refresh/Submit" buttons! You should now see your file(s) listed in Step 3. Fill out the forms with the appropriate information for your platform, being sure to hit "Update" for each file. If anyone is monitoring your platform, check the "email" box at the very bottom to notify them of the new package. This should do it!

If you have made errors, or need to make changes, you can go through essentially the same steps, but select Edit Release, instead of Add Release.

6.5. After the Release

When all (or: most of the) packages have been uploaded and made available, send an email to the announce mailing list, Subject: "Version X.Y.Z available for download". Be sure to include the download location, the release notes and the Changelog. Also, post an updated News item on the project page Sourceforge, and update the Home page and docs linked from the Home page (see below).