add document describing the release process

RELEASE-PROCESS.md

@@ -0,0 +1,71 @@
+# OpenRC Release Process
+
+OpenRC will follow [semantic versioning](https://semver.org/) once we
+move to 1.0.0.
+
+Major and Minor releases will be created on the master branch, and patch
+releases will be created on the branch for the appropriate major or minor release.
+
+OpenRC releases will be created by the primary OpenRC developers, which
+are currently [navi](https://github.com/navi-desu) and
+[williamh](https://github.com/williamh).
+
+Here are the steps we use to create a release.
+
+## Major or Minor release
+
+A major or minor release is directly on the master branch, so make sure
+changes you do not want in the release are not merged into it.
+
+Once all changes you want in the release are committed and pushed on the
+master branch, follow these steps:
+
+- Update the news file then commit and push.
+- Update the version in the top level meson.build then commit and push.
+- Tag the release  with a signed tag as follows:
+
+```
+$ git tag -s -m 'release major.minor' major.minor
+```
+
+- push the tag
+
+## patch release
+
+Patch releases are created on branches based on the major or minor
+release they are related to. Other than the version update in the top
+level meson.build, patch releases should only contain commits
+cherry-picked from master after the major/minor release they are related
+to. Patch releases are for bug fixes only; new features should not be
+added without going to a new major or minor release.
+
+Here are the steps for creating a patch release.
+
+- make sure you have the patch release branch created and checked out.
+  Patch release branches are created with names like 1.1.x. If the
+  patch release branch you need does not exist, create it as follows:
+
+  ```
+  git checkout -b 1.1.x 1.1
+  git push -u origin 1.1.x
+  ```
+
+  - Check out the patch release branch:
+
+```
+git checkout 1.1.x
+```
+
+- use git-cherry(1) or some other method to determine which commits to
+  cherry-pick from master for the patch release.
+- use git cherry-pick(1) to copy commits from master to the patch
+  release branch.  If the cherry-pick fails, the commit should not be used in the patch release.
+- Optionally update the news file then commit and push.
+- Update the version in the top level meson.build then commit and push.
+- Tag the release  with a signed tag as follows:
+
+```
+$ git tag -s -m 'release major.minor.patch' major.minor.patch
+```
+
+- push the tag