To create a zsh release:

- Be satisfied that 'master' is releaseable.
  (No recent destabilizing changes, `make check` passes, etc)

- Bump or update:

	Config/version.mk to today's date
	Config/version.mk version number
	Etc/FAQ.yo
	README
	NEWS

  The version-number sequence is as follows:

	5.8, 5.8.0.1-dev, 5.8.0.2-test, 5.8.1, 5.8.1.1-dev, 5.8.1.2-test, 5.9

  Please note:

	- All version numbers in this document are examples only and may not
	  reflect the actual version history of the shell.
	- A slightly different ordering of version-number components was used
	  prior to zsh 5.8. All subsequent releases should use the scheme
	  described above.
	- Usually there is only one -dev version (1-dev), but there may be more
	  if for example there is a wordcode compatibility break, in which case
	  the sequence would be something like 1-dev, 2-dev, 3-test, .... No
	  special release process is associated with a -dev version bump.
	- Usually at least one -test version is released for public testing in
	  the lead-up to the final release of the next stable version.

  README should document compatibility-breaking changes. Generally, NEWS should
  document new features and major bug fixes (but not routine fixes or changes to
  completion/contrib functions).

  For -test releases, you may update the FAQ, README, etc., to refer to the
  upcoming stable version number.

- Commit those changes with an "unposted" ChangeLog entry.

	git commit -am "Test release: 5.8.1.2-test." &&
		zshdev-add-nnnnn-and-changelog unposted
	# (Everyone has a different way of getting the "unposted" magic string
	# into ChangeLog and the log message.  This script is how I do it; YMMV;
	# see Etc/zsh-development-guide for alternative scripts.)

- Create signed git tag named "zsh-5.8.1..." (not "5.8.1...")

	git tag --sign -m "Tag version zsh-5.8.1.2-test." zsh-5.8.1.2-test

- If the tagged release is a stable release (as opposed to a test release):

	vi Config/version.mk # bump to 5.9.0.1-dev and tomorrow's date
	git commit -am "Post-release version bump." &&
		zshdev-add-nnnnn-and-changelog unposted
		# or local equivalent (see above)

- Create tarball:

	git checkout zsh-5.8.1.2-test
	git diff HEAD # ensure no local mods
	rm -f Doc/help.txt Doc/help/[_a-zA-Z0-9]* # some devs have had issues with these
	Util/preconfig && ./configure ...
	make -C Etc
	make -C Doc everything
	make tarxz-doc tarxz-src
	for i in zsh*.tar.?z ; do gpg -ab -- $i ; done

- [one time step] Add your key to http://zsh.sf.net/Arc/source.html; see README
  in the 'web' repository for how to do this.  Its URL is:

	git clone git://git.code.sf.net/p/zsh/web
	git clone ssh://git.code.sf.net/p/zsh/web

- Upload to sf.net:

	Test releases go to the "zsh-test" directory.
	Stable releases to zsh/ and zsh-doc/.
	For stable releases only, after uploading, select the tar.xz artifact
	under zsh/, press the 🛈 button ("View Details") to its right, and press
	[Select All] next to "Default Download For:".  This should cause sf.net
	to offer that artifact in the "Looking for the latest version?" line.

- If the new release is a stable release, update zsh.sf.net:

	# Move into the 'web' repository mentioned above
	cd /path/to/web/repo
	git pull

	# Review the README, in case there is any new information there
	cat README

	# Run release.zsh to update the documentation from the main repository
	# (making sure you still have checked out the tag you created!)
	ZSHPATH=/path/to/zsh/repo ./release.zsh

	# Commit changes
	git commit -am 'Doc, FAQ, Intro: Update for <version>' # replace <version>

	# Update the files mentioned in the release.zsh instructions (just
	# adhere to the existing structure/format)
	$EDITOR index.html
	$EDITOR News/index.html
	$EDITOR releases.html

	# Run release-update-versions.zsh to update the names and sizes of the
	# files listed on the documentation index and source page
	./release-update-versions.zsh <version> # replace <version>

	# Commit changes
	git commit -am 'Update downloads, notes, etc., for <version>' # replace <version>

	# Tag and push changes
	git tag -sm 'Release of zsh <version>' zsh-<version> # replace <version>
	git push

	# Post changes; see web/README for the full rsync command. When in
	# doubt, use `rsync -n` to perform a dry run. Note that changes may take
	# several minutes to appear afterwards
	rsync ...

- For stable releases, upload the build artefacts to zsh.org/pub; you may need
  assistance from another dev if you don't have access to do this.

- Post to -workers@

- After a day or so post to:

	-users@, if test release;
	-announce@, if stable release.