On Sun, Mar 28, 2021 at 12:00 PM Thomas Monjalon <thomas@monjalon.net> wrote:
>
> From: Asaf Penso <asafp@nvidia.com>
>
> Adding more information about the release milestones.
> This includes the scope of change, expectations, etc.
>
> Signed-off-by: Asaf Penso <asafp@nvidia.com>
> Signed-off-by: Thomas Monjalon <thomas@monjalon.net>
> Acked-by: John McNamara <john.mcnamara@intel.com>
Acked-by: Ajit Khaparde <ajit.khaparde@broadcom.com>

> ---
> v2: fix styling format and add content in the commit message
> v3: change punctuation and avoid plural form when unneeded
> v4: avoid abbreviations, "Priority" in -rc, and reword as John suggests
> v5: note that release candidates may vary
> v6: merge RFC and proposal deadline, add roadmap link and reduce duplication
> ---
>  doc/guides/contributing/patches.rst | 69 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>  1 file changed, 69 insertions(+)
>
> diff --git a/doc/guides/contributing/patches.rst b/doc/guides/contributing/patches.rst
> index 6dbbd5f8d1..1277443620 100644
> --- a/doc/guides/contributing/patches.rst
> +++ b/doc/guides/contributing/patches.rst
> @@ -177,6 +177,8 @@ Make your planned changes in the cloned ``dpdk`` repo. Here are some guidelines
>  * Add documentation, if relevant, in the form of Doxygen comments or a User Guide in RST format.
>    See the :ref:`Documentation Guidelines <doc_guidelines>`.
>
> +* Code and related documentation must be updated atomically in the same patch.
> +
>  Once the changes have been made you should commit them to your local repo.
>
>  For small changes, that do not require specific explanations, it is better to keep things together in the
> @@ -660,3 +662,70 @@ patch accepted. The general cycle for patch review and acceptance is:
>       than rework of the original.
>     * Trivial patches may be merged sooner than described above at the tree committer's
>       discretion.
> +
> +
> +Milestones definition
> +---------------------
> +
> +Each DPDK release has milestones that help everyone to converge to the release date.
> +The following is a list of these milestones
> +together with concrete definitions and expectations,
> +for a typical release cycle (3 months ending after 4 release candidates).
> +The number and expectations of release candidates might vary slightly.
> +The schedule is updated in the `roadmap <https://core.dpdk.org/roadmap/#dates>`_.
> +
> +Roadmap
> +~~~~~~~
> +
> +* Announce new features in libraries, drivers, applications, and examples.
> +* To be published before the first day of the release cycle.
> +
> +Proposal Deadline
> +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> +
> +* Must send an RFC or a complete v1 patch.
> +* Early RFC gives time for design review before complete implementation.
> +* Should include at least the API changes in libraries and applications.
> +* Library code should be quite complete at the deadline.
> +* Nice to have: driver implementation (full or draft), example code, and documentation.
> +
> +rc1
> +~~~
> +
> +* Priority: new or updated API.
> +* New API should be defined and implemented in libraries.
> +* The API should include Doxygen documentation
> +  and be part of the relevant .rst files (library-specific and release notes).
> +* API should be used in a test application (``/app``).
> +* At least one PMD should implement the API.
> +  It can be a draft but must be sent as a separate series.
> +* The above should be sent to the mailing list at least 2 weeks before -rc1.
> +* Nice to have: example code (``/examples``)
> +
> +rc2
> +~~~
> +
> +* Priority: drivers.
> +* New features should be implemented in drivers.
> +* A driver change should include documentation
> +  in the relevant .rst files (driver-specific and release notes).
> +* The above should be sent to the mailing list at least 2 weeks before -rc2.
> +
> +rc3
> +~~~
> +
> +* Priority: applications.
> +* New functionality that does not depend on libraries update
> +  can be integrated as part of -rc3.
> +* The application should include documentation in the relevant .rst files
> +  (application-specific and release notes if significant).
> +* It may be the last opportunity for miscellaneous changes.
> +* Libraries and drivers cleanup are allowed.
> +* Small driver reworks.
> +* Critical and minor bug fixes.
> +
> +rc4
> +~~~
> +
> +* Documentation updates.
> +* Critical bug fixes.
> --
> 2.30.1
>