docs: Add release management guide

docs/release.md

@@ -0,0 +1,122 @@
+<!--
+SPDX-FileCopyrightText: The RamenDR authors
+SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+-->
+
+# Ramen Release Management
+
+This page describes how the Ramen project maintainers release a version of Ramen.
+
+## Prerequisites
+
+- Write access to the GitHub repository
+- Push access to quay.io/ramendr
+- Container registry login:
+
+  ```bash
+  podman login quay.io
+  ```
+
+## Create New Branch
+
+A new branch must be created for each release. The branch name should
+follow the pattern `release-{number}`:
+
+```bash
+git checkout -b release-0.1.0
+```
+
+## Update Version
+
+Update the `VERSION` variable in the Makefile:
+
+```bash
+VERSION ?= 0.1.0
+```
+
+Commit and push the version change:
+
+```bash
+git add Makefile
+git commit -s -m "Release 0.1.0"
+git push origin release-0.1.0
+```
+
+## Create and Push Tag
+
+Create a git tag for the release:
+
+```bash
+git tag -a v0.1.0 -m "Release v0.1.0"
+git push origin v0.1.0
+```
+
+## Set Release Variables
+
+Export all required variables for building and pushing images:
+
+```bash
+export VERSION=0.1.0
+export IMAGE_TAG=v${VERSION}
+export IMAGE_REGISTRY=quay.io
+export IMAGE_REPOSITORY=ramendr
+export IMG=${IMAGE_REGISTRY}/${IMAGE_REPOSITORY}/ramen-operator:${IMAGE_TAG}
+export BUNDLE_IMG_HUB=${IMAGE_REGISTRY}/${IMAGE_REPOSITORY}/ramen-hub-operator-bundle:${IMAGE_TAG}
+export BUNDLE_IMG_DRCLUSTER=${IMAGE_REGISTRY}/${IMAGE_REPOSITORY}/ramen-dr-cluster-operator-bundle:${IMAGE_TAG}
+export CATALOG_IMG=${IMAGE_REGISTRY}/${IMAGE_REPOSITORY}/ramen-operator-catalog:${IMAGE_TAG}
+```
+
+## Build and Push Container Images
+
+Build and push the operator container images:
+
+```bash
+make docker-build docker-push
+```
+
+## Generate and Push OLM Bundles
+
+Generate the OLM bundles for hub and dr-cluster operators:
+
+```bash
+make bundle-hub
+make bundle-dr-cluster
+
+make bundle-hub-build
+make bundle-hub-push
+
+make bundle-dr-cluster-build
+make bundle-dr-cluster-push
+```
+
+## Build and Push OLM Catalog
+
+Build and push the OLM catalog image:
+
+```bash
+make catalog-build
+make catalog-push
+```
+
+## Creating a GitHub Release
+
+A new release will be created and updated with release notes.
+
+Release notes can be generated using:
+
+```bash
+# List commits since last release
+git log v0.0.1..HEAD --oneline
+```
+
+Create the release at <https://github.com/ramendr/ramen/releases/new>
+with:
+
+- Tag: `v0.1.0`
+- Title: `Ramen v0.1.0`
+- Description: Release notes with features, bug fixes, and known issues
+
+## Updating the Community
+
+An announcement should be made to the community with the new release and
+changes in that version.