Release promotion process

If you're looking to promote a new release of KDE, KOffice or possibly KYourApplication then this section is your new best friend. This page kicks things off with a quick overview of release promotion, followed by a list of HOWTOs for specific parts of the process.

How do we do it?

To promote your release, you need to do at least some of these items:

1. Identify the coolest new features (required);
2. Formulate the three key messages (required, depends on 1);
3. Write an illustrated "what's new" guide (depends on 1 & 2);
4. Write a press release (depends on 1, 2 & 3);
5. Write a formal announcement on the project web site (depends on 1, 2 & 3). These can just be based on existing announcements, changing the key messages to reflect the press release and any other new details (like web site links, version numbers and press contacts);
6. Translate the press release, formal announcement and possibly other deliverables;
7. Collect the formal announcement, press release plus translations, any release notes and the changelog, and ensure they are properly presented on the appropriate web site;
8. Write an announcement for the Dot;
9. Distribute press release.

For minor releases (e.g. 3.5.3) we only need to complete stages 1, 2, 4, 5, 7 and 8. Translations are a welcome addition, whilst an illustrated guide is overkill since changes will mostly be "invisible" bugfixes.

You should start work on items 1 and 2 at least two weeks before the release date (set by the Technical Working Group), and allow at least a week each to produce and translate the deliverables. Ideally, allow three weeks for minor releases and upwards of a month for major releases to ensure you can get the highest quality materials produced. Always allow time for offers of help to fall through, volunteers to disappear for a few days and other nasty surprises.

Announcements for major and minor releases of KDE and KOffice are co-ordinated on the kde-promo mailing list. Application teams are welcome to come there for help promoting their own releases.

On the actual release day, co-ordinate the Dot announcement and press release distribution with the Marketing Team and the Technical Working Group. Otherwise chaos can ensue!