Steps to be followed to produce a new ROOT release are:

1. Get the 'green' light from all main developers
2. Check that all the Jenkins builds / CDash builds are green
3. Update versions in JIRA
   • 'Release' the version in the project configuration
   • Eventually create the next development version
4. Update the release notes in README/ReleaseNotes/vXXX/index.md
   • Edit release notes patches section
   • From the list the versions in JIRA, select the version and then 'release notes'
   • git commit README/ReleaseNotes/vXXX/index.md
5. Modify version number and modify all necessary files
   • edit build/version_number (even patch number for releases)
   • if before 6.04: change PROJECT_NUMBER in documentation/doxygen/Doxyfile
   • Run from the build directory $ make version
6. Tag main ROOT repository
   • $ git tag -a vX-YY-ZZ
7. Update the release notes in README/ReleaseNotes/vXXX/index.md again
   • edit README/ReleaseNotes/vXXX/index.md; possibly copying from README/ReleaseNotes/empty.md if this is not a patch release
   • git commit README/ReleaseNotes/vXXX/index.md
8. Update to the next development version
   • edit build/version_number (odd patch number)
   • make version, check in
9. Push to github
   • $ git push origin vX-YY-00-patches
   • $ git push origin vX-YY-ZZ
10. Tag ROOTTEST repository
11. Make source tar file and copy to ftp area on root.cern.ch
    • Run from the build directory $ make distsrc not on a MacOS machine
    • $ scp ../root_vX.YY.ZZ.source.tar.gz sftnight@root:/home/www/root/download
12. Produce binary tarfiles
    • start the procedure root-release-6.12 (or whichever branch) in Jenkins
    • tarfiles and other artifacts are copied to final destination
13. Install binaries to CVMFS
    • Install release binaries to CVMFS with the Jenkins procedure root-release-CVMFS
14. Update the release pages
    • Generate the release notes with the Jenkins procedure called root-releasenotes
    • Update the releases xml with the Jenkins procedure called root-release-makeReleasesXml/
    • Once authenticated, import the releases xml in the site clicking import here (Be reminded: this works for authenticated users only!).
    • Eventually edit the 'highlights' section, which is currently commented, in the generated release page.
    • If this applies, mark the release as Pro or Old and remove the attribute to the one previously holding it. There are radio buttons exposed by Drupal when editing a release's page.
    • If not a patch release edit reference-guide page to add the new reference guide for the release.
15. Announcements
    • send mail to the following mailing lists: root-planning@cern.ch, root-dev@cern.ch, roottalk@cern.ch
    • write announcement in RootTalk forum news