# Releasing and publishing the SDK

While the release process can be handled manually, `cargo-release` has been
configured to make it more convenient.

By default, [`cargo-release`](https://github.com/crate-ci/cargo-release) assumes
that no pull request is required to cut a release. However, since the SDK
repo is set up so that each push requires a pull request, we need to slightly
deviate from the default workflow. A `cargo-xtask` has been created to make the
process as smooth as possible.

The procedure is as follows:

1. Switch to a release branch:

  ```bash
  git switch -c release-x.y.z
  ```

2. Prepare the release. This will update the `README.md`, prepend the `CHANGELOG.md`
   file using `git cliff`, and bump the version in the `Cargo.toml` file.

```bash
cargo xtask release prepare --execute minor|patch|rc
```

3. Double-check and edit the `CHANGELOG.md` and `README.md` if necessary. Once you are
   satisfied, push the branch and open a PR.

```bash
git push --set-upstream origin/release-x.y.z
```

4. Pass the review and merge the branch as you would with any other branch.

5. Create tags for your new release, publish the release on crates.io and push
   the tags:

```bash
# Switch to main first.
git switch main
# Pull in the now-merged release commit(s).
git pull
# Create tags, publish the release on crates.io, and push the tags.
cargo xtask release publish --execute
```
For more information on cargo-release: https://github.com/crate-ci/cargo-release
